New types of bis-quaternary ammonium bromide as chiral multisite phase transfer catalysts derived from cinchona alkaloids have been developed and evaluated for the enantioselective epoxidation of chalcones in the presence of lower concentrations of various oxidants, bases and ultrasonic irradiation conditions.
SnCl4 or TiCl4 catalysts provide a rapid and efficient detetrahydropyranylation and demethoxymethylation of phenolic ethers and a sequential one-pot intramolecular Friedel–Crafts alkylation of chalcone epoxides under mild reaction conditions.