One-pot reactions of nitroenamines with anilines and ethyl glyoxylate

In a simple, one-pot, catalyst-free procedure starting from heterocyclic nitroenamines, substituted anilines and ethyl glyoxylate new ethyl 2-arylamino-3-nitro-propionates were prepared in good to excellent yields. Depending on the substituent pattern of the anilines applied, two routes for the one-pot reaction are suggested. Additionally, it was demonstrated that these multifunctional compounds of aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman type were also formed in two-step protocols either from imines and nitroenamines or from the adducts of nitroenamines and ethyl glyoxylate with anilines.