Tetramic acid derivatives via Ugi–Dieckmann-reaction

Tetramic acid derivatives constitute an important class of nitrogen containing heterocycles, and are key structural motifs in many natural products of terrestrial and marine origin. The interesting biological and structural diversity of this class of substances makes it a particularly interesting template for the design of compound libraries in search of small molecules that effect cellular signalling pathways. Therefore, a novel combinatorial synthesis of tetramic acids by an Ugi/Dieckmann condensation is described.