Regioselective dmad-insertion reaction of silyl dienol ether of γ-pyrone under catalyst- and heating-free conditions

The reaction of silyl dienol ether of γ-pyrone with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD) gives the regioselective insertion product in 66% yield. This DMAD-insertion reaction is thought to include a three-step sequence: (1) thermal [2+2]-type cycloaddition reaction of silyl dienol ether of γ-pyrone with DMAD, (2) ring-opening electrocyclic reaction of the cyclobutene skeleton, and (3) hydrolysis of the silyl dienol ether. The present reaction proceeds under mild conditions without any catalysts or heating. In addition, the [2+2]-type cycloaddition reaction proceeds regioselectively at the C3–C4 double bond in the silyl dienol ether of γ-pyrone.