3-Cyanochromones in [3+2] cycloadditions with an azomethine ylide derived from sarcosine and formaldehyde. A short synthesis of 1-benzopyrano[2,3-c:3,4-c′]dipyrrolidines

Reactions of 3-cyanochromones with sarcosine and paraformaldehyde proceed diastereoselectively to give 1-benzopyrano[2,3-c]pyrrolidines and tetrahydro-1H-spiro[chromeno[2,3-c]pyrrol-9,5′-oxazolidine]-9a-carbonitriles, depending on the reactant ratio, as a result of a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of the intermediate nonstabilized azomethine ylide at the double bond and carbonyl group of the chromone system. The latter undergoes demethylenation and recyclization into a novel hexahydrochromeno[2,3-c:3,4-c′]dipyrrole tetracyclic system on heating with hydrochloric acid.