Michael addition of benzoylacetonitrile to chiral α‐cyanoacrylates derived from enantiomerically pure α‐hydroxyaldehydes: Synthesis of 3‐alkoxycarbonyl‐4‐alkyl‐2‐amino‐5‐cyano‐6‐phenyl‐4 H ‐pyrans

We describe the Michael addition of benzoylacetonitrile to α‐cyanoacrylates 4a‐c and 5a obtained from readily available chiral α‐hydroxyaldehydes 1a‐c . The resulting polyfunctionalized 4‐alkyl‐2‐amino‐4 H ‐pyrans 6a‐c, 7a have been obtained in good yield and moderate diastereoselectivity.