Synthesis of dihydropyridines and pyridines from imines and alkynes via C-H activation

A convenient one-pot C-H alkenylation/electrocyclization/aromatization sequence is developed for the synthesis of highly substituted pyridine derivatives from alkynes and [alpha],[beta]-unsaturated N-benzyl aldimines and ketimines that has proceeded through dihydropyridine intermediates. The Copasi software is used for determining rate constants for the transformation, which has implicated facile C-H oxidative addition and slow reductive elimination steps.