Modulating the Reactivity of α‐Isocyanoacetates: Multicomponent Synthesis of 5‐Methoxyoxazoles and Furopyrrolones

Abstract

A simple approach to complexity: The reactivity pattern of α-isocyanoacetates can be tuned by modulating the acidity of the α CH bond(s) against the nucleophilicity of the conjugate base. The unique reactivity of the α-(p-nitrophenyl)-α-isocyanoacetate 1 was exploited in a three-component synthesis of 5-methoxyoxazoles 2 and four-component synthesis of furopyrrolones 3. R1,R2,R3=alkyl, aryl, benzyl; R4=aryl. Supporting information for this article is available on the WWW under http://www.wiley-vch.de/contents/jc_2002/2007/z605005_s.pdf or from the author. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.