A facile approach was developed to synthesize 3-acetamido-2-pyridone derivatives in
moderate yields from δ-keto nitriles, derived from Michael addition between ethyl
acetamidocyanoacetate and α,β-unsaturated ketones. The tandem reaction sequence promoted
by FeCl3 involves intramolecular ketone-nitrile annulation followed by aromatization via selective
decarbethoxylation. A plausible mechanism is also described.
δ-keto nitrile - 3-acetamido-2-pyridone - ferric chloride