E-Journal of Chemistry
Volume 9, Issue 1, Pages 49-54
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/390528
Fast, Facile and Convenient Synthesis of α,α-Bis(substituted-arylidene) Cycloalkanones: An improved Protocol
1Department of Chemistry, Islamic Azad University-Marvdasht Branch, Marvdasht, Iran
2Department of Chemistry, Islamic Azad University-Firoozabad Branch, Fars, Iran
Received 1 April 2011; Accepted 15 June 2011
Copyright © 2012 Hindawi Publishing Corporation. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Commercially available potassium hydroxide (KOH), a simple base, was found to be a catalyst for tandem cross-aldol condensation between cyclic ketones and aromatic aldehydes leading to a fast and easy synthesis of α,α-bis (substituted-arylidene) cycloalkanones in the shortest times of all previous methods. The reaction of aryl aldehydes with five and six-membered cyclic ketones afforded excellent yields after few seconds in most cases. The reaction conditions were compatible with various electron withdrawing and electron donating substituents, e.g. Cl, F, NO2, OMe, Me and NMe2.