Organocatalyzed benzannulation for the construction of diverse anthraquinones and tetracenediones?

Chemical Communications Pub Date: 2015-04-10 DOI: 10.1039/C5CC00623F

Abstract

An efficient one-pot synthesis of anthraquinones and tetracenediones was achieved viaL-proline catalyzed [4+2] cycloaddition of in situ generated azadiene from α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and 1,4-naphthoquinones or 1,4-anthracenedione in good to excellent yield. This protocol constitutes an unprecedented tandem benzannulation that allows one-pot construction of diverse anthraquinones and tetracenediones in the presence of organocatalysts. This methodology was applied successfully to the synthesis of naturally occurring molecules and photochemically interesting phenanthrenequinone derivatives.

Graphical abstract: Organocatalyzed benzannulation for the construction of diverse anthraquinones and tetracenediones
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