One-pot synthesis of aza-Morita–Baylis–Hillman adducts from α-oxo ketene-S,S-acetals, arylaldehydes and nitriles

Promoted by TiCl4, a series of α-(1,3-dithiolan-2-ylidene)-β-amino carbonyl derivatives––the aza-Morita–Baylis–Hillman adducts, have been synthesized from α-oxo cyclic ketene-S,S-acetals, arylaldehydes, and nitriles in good to excellent yields. A mechanism involving sequential Morita–Baylis–Hillman and Ritter reactions for this novel one-pot, three-component reaction is described.