Substituent directed regioselective synthesis of 2-oxonicotonic acids and methyl nicotinates

An innovative synthesis of aryl tethered 1,2-dihydro-2-oxopyridine-3-carboxylic acids has been developed through nucleophile induced ring transformation of methyl 6-aryl-4-methylsulfanyl-2H-pyran-2-one-3-carboxylates using either cyanamide or arylamidine in excellent yields. Further, the reaction of methyl 6-aryl-4-methylsulfanyl-2H-pyran-2-one-3-carboxylates with formamidine acetate under analogous reaction conditions did not follow the same course of reaction and produced methyl nicotinate, regioselectively, in good yield. Decarboxylation of a 6-aryl-4-methylsulfanyl-1,2-dihydro-2-oxopyridine-3-carboxylic acid has been achieved by heating in PPA. The 4-methylsulfanyl substituent in 3 has also been oxidized to the corresponding methylsulfonyl group with m-chloroperbenzoic acid.