An efficient method for the synthesis of 2, 3-dichloro-5-substituted (Cl, CF3, alkyl) pyridines 29 starting from the 1: 1 adducts of the copper-catalysed addition of chloral or the corresponding 2, 2-dichloroaldehydes to acrylonitrile is presented. Proper choice of experimental conditions allows the preparation of 29 in a one-pot process. Similarly, the CuCl-catalysed reaction of methyl itaconate with several trichloromethyl compounds R- ...
