Synthesis 2010(21): 3715-3723  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1258214
PAPER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

Tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane-Catalyzed Alkylation of 1,3-Dicarbonyl Compounds with Benzylic Alcohols: Access to Oxygenated Heterocycles

Chada Raji Reddy*a, Jonnalagadda Vijaykumara, René Gréeb
a Organic Division - I, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad 500607, India
Fax: +91(40)27160512; e-Mail: rajireddy@iict.res.in;
b Université de Rennes 1, Laboratoire CPM, CNRS UMR 6510 and Laboratoire SCR, CNRS UMR 6226, Avenue du Général Leclerc, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France
Further Information

Publication History

Received 29 June 2010
Publication Date:
13 August 2010 (online)

Abstract

Tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane has found to be an effective catalyst for the alkylation of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds using benzylic alcohols as alkylating agents. Various 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds reacted cleanly with different benzylic alcohols to provide the corresponding monoalkylated products in good yield. In addition tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane efficiently promoted the C3 alkylation of 4-hydroxycoumarins. Further, several oxygenated heterocycles such as furans, 4H-chromenes, and furanocoumarins have been prepared using the described methodology as the key step.