A highly efficient and simple method for the preparation of α,α´-bis(arylidene)cycloalkanones under solvent-free conditions has been developed. The crossed-aldol condensation of cycloalkanones (1 eq.) with arylaldehydes (2 eq.) in the presence of 2.5 mol% of ionic liquid 1,3-disulfonic acid imidazolium hydrogen sulfate {[Dsim]HSO4} afforded the title compounds in high yields and short reaction ...

A new method for enolate generation via the gold-catalyzed addition of boronic acids to alkynes is reported. The formation of boron enolates from readily accessible ortho-alkynylbenzeneboronic acids proceeds rapidly with 2 mol % PPh(3)AuNTf(2) at ambient temperature. The enolates undergo aldol reaction with an aldehyde present in the reaction mixture to give cyclic boronate esters, which can be...

High oxidation-state carbonyl coupling partners including esters and lactones were reacted with enones to give aldol-type products directly using two-fold organoborane catalysis. This new retrosynthetic disconnection is compatible enolisable partners, without self-condensation, couples the high reactivity of secondary dialkylboranes stability pinacolboronic esters. Excellent chemoselectivity, s...

Five quaternary ammonium ionic liquid (IL) and two tetrabutylphosphonium ILs were prepared and characterized. An environmentally benign and convenient functionalized ionic liquid catalytic system was thus explored in the aldol condensation reactions of aromatic aldehydes with acetone. The aldol reactions proceeded more efficiently through microwave-assisted heating than through conventional the...

Divergent synthesis of indoles, oxindoles, isocoumarins and isoquinolinones is described in this report by using a general Pd-catalyzed tandem reaction of β-hydroxy carbonyl compounds with aryl halides bearing an ortho-nitro, -ester or -cyano substituent. A key retro-aldol/α-arylation reaction is involved that merges classic Pd cross-coupling chemistry with novel Pd-promoted retro-aldol C-C act...