A Brief Synthesis of 2,2’-Arylmethylene Bis(3-hydroxy-5,5-dimethyl-2-cyclohexene-1- one) Catalyzed by TEAOH in Various Solvents

2,2'-Arylmethylene bis(3-hydroxy-5,5-dimethyl-2-cyclohexene-1-one) having four carbonyl functionalities along with their tautomeric keto-enol forms, is an important biologically active compound and important synthetic intermediate in the synthesis of xanthenes. This study was conducted in order to develop a new and concise method of synthesis of 2,2'-arylmethylene bis (3-hydroxy-5,5-dimethyl-2- cyclohexene-1-one) derivatives.TEAOH (20 mol %) was fond to be as a simple and efficient catalyst for the preparation of 2,2'-arylmethylene bis(3-hydroxy-5,5-dimethyl-2-cyclohexene-1-one) derivatives by the Knoevenagel condensation/Michael addition tandem reactions.A concise and practical method was developed for one-pot synthesis of 2,2'-arylmethylene bis(3- hydroxy-5,5-dimethyl-2-cyclohexene-1-one) derivatives catalyzed by TEAOH at room temperature in various solvents.This strategy provides several advantages over the traditional synthetic method, and is applicable to a wide variety of aromatic and heteroaromatic aldehydes at room temperature in various solvents.