Rapid synthesis of highly functionalised α-amino amides and medium ring lactones using multicomponent reactions of amino alcohols and isocyanidesElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: 1H and 13C NMR spectra for all MCR products 9-12 and 2D/nOe spectra for compound 12. See DOI: 10.1039/c1ob06534c

Four-component reactions between amino alcohols, aldehydes, isocyanides and thiols proceed rapidly under microwave or conventional heating at 60 °C in methanol. The reaction is successful with a wide range of components and gives access to potentially drug-like products containing amine, amide and thioether functionality in moderate to excellent yield. The reaction conditions are also applicable to the synthesis of a range of 8-10 membered medium ring lactones via three-component reactions of amino alcohols, isocyanides and acid-aldehydes. Incorporation of l -prolinol as the amino alcohol component in each case gives access to multicomponent products with moderate to high diastereoselectivity. Multicomponent reactions of amino alcohols and isocyanides take place in 20-30 min under microwave irradiation without the need for a catalyst.