Indium catalysis triflates

The aza-Diels-Alder reaction of imines with diene of Danishefsky is an important route to 2,3-dihydro-4-pyridones. A number of Lewis acids have been used to catalyze the reaction in organic solvents. In water the reaction was realized by acid catalysis via iminium salts or by Bronsted acids. The montmorillonite K-10 catalyzed this cycloaddition in water or in aqueous acetonitrile in excellent yield. Recently Kobayashi has performed the reaction in water at room temperature under neutral conditions in two (imine - - diene) or three (aldehyde -b amine -b diene) component versions by using sodium triflate as catalyst. Imine intermediates from the indium-mediated reaction, in aqueous medium at 50° C, between aromatic nitro compounds and 2,3-dihydrofuran undergo aza-Diels-Alder cycloadditions to give tetrahydroquinoline derivatives in good overall yields. ... 

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