1,3,5-Trisubstituted and 5-acyl-1,3-disubstituted hydantoin derivatives via novel sequential three-component reaction.

1,2-Diaza-1,3-dienes (DDs) react as Michael acceptors with primary amines to afford α-aminohydrazone derivatives that were in situ coupled with isocyanates. Intramolecular ring closure of the asymmetric urea derivatives so formed allows for a selectively substituted hydantoin ring to be obtained. The hydrazone side chain introduced by the conjugated heterodiene system at the 5-position of the heterocycle represents a valuable functionality for accessing novel 5-acyl derivatives difficult to obtain by other methods.