Synthesis and easy aromatisation of 5-substituted 6-(alkylthio)-2-methoxy-2,3-dihydropyridines. A new approach to the pyridine ring

Reaction of lithiated methoxyallene, 1-ethoxyethoxyallene, 1-(methylthio)propyne and 2-butyne with methoxymethyl isothiocyanate, MeOCH2NCS followed by methylation affords the imidothioates H2CCC(R)C(SMe)NCH2OMe [R=Me, OMe, OCH(Me)OEt, SMe]. Rearrangement to the fully conjugated systems H2CCHC(R)C(SMe)NCHOMe and subsequent electrocyclisation of these compounds leads to the 5-substituted 6-(methylthio)-2-methoxy-2,3-dihydropyridines with good to excellent yields. In the presence of acidic catalysts or by heating at elevated temperatures these dihydropyridines eliminate methanol to afford 3-substituted 2-(methylthio)pyridines. The aroma compound 2-(methylthio)-3-pyridinol was obtained by acid-catalysed treatment of 3-(1-ethoxyethoxy)-2-(methylthio)pyridine.