Silver-catalyzed tandem synthesis of naphthyridines and thienopyridines via three-component reaction

An efficient approach for the silver-catalyzed regioselective tandem synthesis of highly functionalized 1,2-dihydrobenzo[1,6]naphthyridines 6a-z and 7a-e by the reaction of ortho-alkynylaldehydes 3a-n with amines 4a-d and ketones 5a-c/active methylene compounds 5d-g, under mild reaction conditions, is described. The scope of the developed chemistry was successfully extended for the direct synthesis of 1,2-dihydrobenzo[4,5]thieno[2,3-c]pyridines 8a-e, which is known as the sulfur analogue of β-carbolines. Naphthyridines 6a-z and thienopyridines 8a-e were obtained via dual activation concept using l-proline as organocatalyst; however, naphthyridines 7a-e were synthesized without using organocatalyst. The reaction shows selective N-C bond formation on the more electrophilic alkynyl carbon, resulting in the regioselective 6-endo-dig-cyclized products. Reactivity behavior of electron-deficient and electron-rich ortho-alkynylaldehydes in the synthesis of naphthyridines and thienopyridine by three-component reaction is supported by the control experiment.