Palladium-Catalyzed Tandem Reaction of β-Ketonitriles with Arylboronic Acids and Dimethyl Sulfoxide: Application to Multicomponent Synthesis of Poly-Substituted Pyridines

The Pd-catalyzed multicomponent tandem reaction of β-ketonitriles, arylboronic acids and DMSO was efficiently developed, enabling access to a variety of poly substituted pyridines. The protocol shows excellent chemoselectivity, generating nicotinonitriles or symmetrical tetrasubstituted pyridines under different conditions by tandem cyclization of enaminone intermediates with β-ketonitriles or enolates, respectively, and does not require extra ammonias. This method boasts notable advantages, such as the use of commercially available or easily prepared substrates, simple conditions, a broad substrate scope, and good functional group tolerance.