Three-component Betti reaction was carried out in the environmentally benign, inexpensive, non-toxic solvent glycerol. Even in the absence of a catalyst, the reaction went completion with an unprecedented high rate and the expected Betti bases were obtained in up to 91% yield. The reaction works well for representative cyclic, acyclic, aliphatic, and aromatic amines and aldehydes. A benzoxanthene was also prepared in 93% yield following the same methodology with 20 mol% methanesulfonic acid catalyst.
Key words
glycerol - Betti reaction - one-pot synthesis - naphtho-1,3-oxazine - benzoxanthenes
