Sterically encumbered biaryls are prepared in two steps by combination of the CuI-proline-catalyzed arylation of acetylacetone with formal [3+3] cyclizations of 1,3-bis(trimethylsilyloxy)-1,3-dienes. In addition, the synthesis of 4,6- and 5,6-diarylsalicylates based on [3+3] cyclizations is reported. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
One-Pot Synthesis of 3,5-Disubstituted and Polysubstituted Phenols from Acyclic Precursors
A new strategy for the synthesis of 3,5-disubstituted phenols is established through one-pot Robinson annulation of α,β-unsaturated ketones with α-fluoro-β-ketoesters followed by in situ dehydrofluorination and tautomerization. This method has been extended to the synthesis of polysubstituted phenols and applied in the preparation of biologically active compounds.