Pyridine synthesis by tin(II) chloride reduction of 5-nitronorbornene
This reaction was conducted by Ho and Liao1. Nitro compound 1 is reduced to the nitroso compound 2 which undergoes a [3+3] electrocyclization to form 3 (4). Tautomerization of 4 to 5 is followed by a retro-&quot;Diels-Alder&quot; reaction to open to 6. Conjugate addition of the nitrogen to the unsaturated aldehyde moiety of 6 to afford dihydro pyridine 7. Tautomerization of 7 to 8 is followed by the loss of acetaldehyde. [Structures are from the paper; my numbering.]

ADDENDUM: The mechanism provided in the paper does not address a number of stereochemical issues. Nitro compound 1 is obviously formed as an endo-Diels-Alder product between (E)-(2-nitrovinyl)benzene and 1,3-cyclopentadiene. The bicyclic compound 3 (4) must have a cis-fusion given the mechanism of the [3+3]-electrocyclization (2 → 3) (vide infra). However, the stereochemistry arising from the retro-Diels-Alder reaction would not be expected to kinetically form the (Z,Z)-diene 6 but rather the (E,Z)-isomer 6a. Clearly, 6a is incapable of cyclization as prescribed. But 6a is a masked, vinylogous malonaldehyde that is susceptible to enolization and isomerization to 6b or 6c. While 6c can cyclize by the reported procedure of conjugate addition, there is also the probability that ring closure occurs by electrocyclization of 6b.


Tse-Lok Ho and Po-Yau Liao, Tetrahedron Lett., 1994, 35, 2211. DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)76799-2