Regiochemistry of addition of aminoheterocycles to α-cyanocinnamonitriles: formation of aza-bridged bi- and tricycles

The additions of various five-membered ring aminoheterocycles to α-cyanocinnamonitriles were studied. Regiochemistry of product formation can in most cases be controlled by choosing the appropriate electrophile. An α-cyanocinnamonitrile with an additional β-leaving group normally provides products arising from initial attack of the ring amino group, while exo attack predominates in the case of the parent α-cyanocinnamonitrile. Aminopyrazole and aminoindazole provide only exo products with either electrophile. Product assignments were made via X-ray and 2D NMR methods; these assignments serve as a benchmark to several literature references and to future investigations of conjugate additions of these nucleophiles.