Theoretical study on the mechanism of the domino reactions of tertiary α-cyano-enamines and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate

The mechanisms of the domino reaction between dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate, 1, and 2-(N,N-dimethylamino)acrylonitrile, 2, and these in presence of acrylonitrile have been theoretically studied using ab initio methods. These domino reactions comprise several pericyclic-type reactions. The geometrical and electronic analysis of the HF/6-31G∗ transition structures and intermediates allows characterizing the processes that take place along these domino reactions. B3LYP/6-31G∗ energetic results are in agreement with the experimental outcomes.