DBU-mediated [4 + 2] annulations of donor-acceptor cyclopropanes with 3-aryl-2-cyanoacrylates for the synthesis of fully substituted anilinesElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Reactions conditions and spectra. CCDC 1542637 and 1547900. For ESI and crystallographic data in CIF or other electronic format see DOI: 10.1039/c7ra07230a

A facile synthesis of fully substituted anilines by the DBU-mediated [4 + 2] annulation of donor-acceptor 1,1-dicyano-cyclopropanes with 3-aryl-2-cyanoacrylate has been developed. This reaction involves a highly efficient multiple domino sequence consisting of ring opening of donor-acceptor cyclopropanes, regioselective intermolecular Michael addition, intramolecular nucleophilic addition and aromatization as key unit steps. This transformation provides a straightforward synthetic protocol for constructing fully substituted aniline derivatives. The structure of two typical products was confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The diversity-oriented synthesis of fully substituted aniline derivatives via the DBU-mediated [4 + 2] annulation of donor-acceptor 1,1-dicyanocyclopropanes with 3-aryl-2-cyanoacrylate has been developed.