Microwave induced single step green synthesis of some novel 2-aryl aldehydes and their analogues

Abstract

The present invention provides a process for the preparation of some novel 2-aryl and 2,2-diaryl aldehydes and analogues which are privileged intermediates for commercially important nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs including naproxen, flurbiprofen and potent anticancer drug candidates, including phenstatin through a unique single step synthetic methodology utilizing easily available substrates in the form of aryl alkenes as well as environmentally benign aqueous reaction conditions in the form of solvents such as mixtures of water and DMSO or Dioxane and reagents N-bromosuccinimide, N-iodosuccinimide, N-cholorosuccinimide and phase transfer catalyst such as cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide, N-hexyl ammonium chloride for a reaction time varying from 1 min-30 min, depending upon microwave or conventional heating, without using expensive transition metal catalysts or lewis acids/bases with yield varying from 35-55%, depending upon the solvent and substrate used. The developed method provides a clean and convenient alternative to access a diverse range of medicinally important 2-aryl and 2,2-diaryl aldehyde based scaffolds in lieu of the conventional multistep protocols employing expensive and hazardous transition metal catalysts and lewis acids/bases.