Aza-Annulation of Enynyl Azides: A New Approach to Substituted Pyridines

Synthesis of substituted pyridines through a novel aza-annulation of 2-en-4-ynyl azides, derived from MBH-acetates of acetylenic aldehydes, is described. A variety of enynyl azides having aryl, heteroaryl, and alkyl groups on the alkyne functionality successfully participated in the Ag-mediated annulation reaction to provide the corresponding 3,6-disubstituted pyridines. I₂-Mediated cyclization was found to be controlled by the substituent on the alkyne functionality, which offered the 5-iodo-3,6-disubstituted pyridines from enynyl azides having an electron-rich substituent on the alkyne functionality.