Base-Catalyzed Cross Coupling of Secondary Alcohols and Aryl-aldehydes with Concomitant Oxidation of

Tetrahedron Lett. 2017, 58, 2761-2764

Base-catalysed C−C cross coupling of secondary alcohols and aryl-aldehydes was achieved, when an alcoholic solution of an aryl-aldehyde was stirred under reflux for 45 h in the presence of a catalytic (20 mol%) amount of K2CO3. The consistent formation of α,α´-bis-(benzylidene) alkanones in moderate to good yields was using with various secondary alcohols and substituted aryl-aldehydes. Herein, α,α´-bis-(benzylidene)alkanones, which are the classical products of Claisen-Schmidt (cross aldol) condensation, have been synthesized via an alternative strategy using secondary alcohols. Bis-(benzylidene) alkanones are an integral part of various drug regimes and the production of bis-(benzylidene) alkanones without using any precious metal is a major outcome of the present reaction.