Pyran-2-ones, cycloaddition/allylic rearrangement

Scheme 2.65 Tandem [2 + 2] cycloaddition/allylic rearrangement to pyran-2-ones [122, 123).

Dihydro-2H-pyran-2-ones (e. g., 4-195) are valuable intermediates in the synthesis of several natural products [67]. Hattori, Miyano and coworkers [68] have recently shown that these compounds can be easily obtained in high yield by a Pd2+-catalyzed [2+2] cycloaddition of ct, 3-unsaturated aldehydes 4-192 with ketene 4-193, followed by an allylic rearrangement of the intermediate 4-194 (Scheme 4.42). In this reaction the Pd2+-compound acts as a mild Lewis acid. a,(3-unsaturated ketones can also be used, but the yields are below 20%. 

The 4-vinyloxetan-2-ones generated in a Pd-catalysed [2+2] cycloaddition between ketene and a,P-unsaturated carbonyl compounds undergo a spontaneous allylic rearrangment. A zwitterionic intermediate is proposed that cyclises to a 3,6-dihydro-2//-pyran-2-one, but which may alternatively decarboxylate to a diene <02T5215>. 

---