Research Information System
HELVETICA CHIMICA ACTA, vol.91, no.6, pp.1148-1155, 2008 (SCI-Expanded)
Alkylbenzenes are synthesized for the first time from aliphatic hydrocarbons via an one pot, transition metal-free coupling approach under basic conditions. The method consists of two steps: condensation of 2-bromoprop-2-enyl- or 2-propargylcyclohexanone with alcohols, amines, or amino alcohols, followed by base treatment (Scheme 1). Phenolic ethers and N-phenylated polyalkyl aromatic compounds are shown to be in the scope of the demonstrated reaction (Table). The proposed mechanism suggests that the unsaturation in another part of the molecule (propargyl-group equivalent) is transferred into the cyclohexane ring to yield a benzene ring through a series of prototropic shifts.