摘要

In the present study, the reaction mechanisms as well as regioselectivities of 1,4-diazabicyclo-[2.2.2] octane (DABCO) and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP)-catalyzed [2+4] annulation reactions of allenoate with alpha,beta-unsaturated cyclic ketimine leading to hydropyridine derivatives have been theoretically investigated using density functional theory (DFT). In general, the amine catalyst can initiate the reaction by nucleophilic attack to allenoate leading to zwitterionic intermediate, which can then react with cyclic ketimine following different reaction mechanisms. For DABCO-catalyzed annulation, the alpha-attack is more energetically favorable, and the subsequent two consecutive proton transfers followed by intramolecular cyclization along with catalyst regeneration can lead to the alpha,beta-[2+4] cycloadduct. While for DMAP-catalyzed annulation, gamma-attack is preferred, and the subsequent intramolecular cyclization followed by catalyst regeneration results into the beta,gamma-[2+4] cycloadduct. The calculated results are consistent with the experimental observations. Further noncovalent interaction (NCI) analyses reveal that the steric repulsion, hydrogen bond interactions, and intramolecular CH center dot center dot center dot pi interactions as well as pi-pi interactions would be responsible for the observed regioselectivities.