Synfacts 2007(7): 0694-0694  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-968685
Synthesis of Heterocycles
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Base-Catalyzed 2H-Chromene Synthesis from Salicylaldehydes and Allenes

Contributor(s): Victor Snieckus, Heiko Scharl
L.-Z. Dai, Y.-L. Shi, G.-L. Zhao, M. Shi*
Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, P. R. of China
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
22 June 2007 (online)

Significance

The synthesis of 2H-chromenes by the reaction of salicylaldehydes with allenes under very mild basic conditions is reported. Perhaps of further synthetic interest, two isomeric chromenes A and B are produced depending on workup conditions: using chromatography on silica gel leads to the isolation of isomer A; in contrast, chromatography on neutral Al2O3 affords chromene B. Ready conversion of isomer B into A was achieved. Mechanistic proposals are provided. The scope and limitations of this method have been insufficiently tested.