To date, various methods have been developed to construct 2-pyridone rings.(2, 3) Among them, the methods employing α,β-unsaturated ketones and 2-substituted acetamides as substrates proved to be effective in the preparation of a variety of 2-pyridones. These transformations involve 1,4-addition of the acetamides to α,β-unsaturated ketones followed by cyclization and elimination (Scheme 1).(4, 5) Since the elimination step usually proceeds via the E2 mechanism or ...
