Rapid, two-pot procedure for the synthesis of dihydropyridinones; total synthesis of aza-goniothalamin.

A fast, protecting-group-free synthesis of dihydropyridinones has been developed. Starting from commercially available aldehydes, a novel one-pot amidoallylation gave access to diene compounds in good yields. Ring-closing metathesis conditions were then employed to produce the target dihydropyridinones efficiently and in high yields.