Microwave-assisted efficient synthesis of 2-hydroxydeoxybenzoins from the alkali degradation of readily prepared 3-aryl-4-.hydroxycoumarins in water

Abstract

This paper describes an operationally simple, green and efficient approach for the synthesis of 2-hydroxydeoxybenzoins bearing diverse substituents from the microwave-assisted alkali degradation of 3-aryl- 4-hydroxycoumarins in water. The latter compounds were readily prepared from the intramolecular Claisen condensation reaction of methyl 2-(2-arylacetoxy)benzoates in the presence of Cs2CO3-acetone, in excellent yields and without laborious workup procedures. This method is highly atom-economic and thus applicable for the large-scale synthesis of 2-hydroxydeoxybenzoins. © 2013 The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan.