1-METHOXYCARBONYL-SUBSTITUTED 2,3-DIHYDROPYRIDIN-4(1H)-ONE (METHYL 1,2,3,4-TETRAHYDRO-4-OXOPYRIDINE-1-CARBOXYLATE) AS CHROMOPHORE FOR PHOTOCHEMICAL [2+2]-CYCLOADDITIONS

With olefins having an electron-acceptor as well as with olefins having an electron-donor substituent, 1-methoxycarbonyl-substituted dihydropyridinone 12 undergoes [2 + 2] cycloaddition in good preparative yields. The photochemical cycloaddition is highly regioselective. For preparative purposes, the ring junction can be equilibrated to the thermodynamically more stable cis-junction. Only the 'endo'/'exo' selectivity at the C-atom bearing the olefin substituent cannot be controlled. The photodimerization of 12 is the only side reaction. Using a slight excess of the olefin, the photodimerization can be suppressed. The protecting group at the N-atom of the dihydropyridinone can be varied in order to introduce an internal sensitizer, as shown with 1-acyl-substituted compound 29, which underwent the cycloaddition process even with sunlight.