Architecturally diverse heterocycle formation by N-acyliminium ion initiated cyclization

Enaminoesters containing a tethered indole or aryl moiety on the amine react with substituted maleic anhydrides or acryloyl chlorides to provide pyrrolinone or dihydropyridone products, respectively. The indole-tethered dihydropyridones can be induced to undergo a one-pot cyclization whereas, the indole-tethered pyrrolinone intermediates are readily cyclized with HCl. The aryl-tethered pyrrolinones or dihydropyridones can be isolated and subsequently induced to cyclize with triflic acid. This methodology culminates in the synthesis of erythrane-like and other natural products that are readily amenable to combinatorial library production.