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.