A Weinreb Amide Based Building Block for Convenient Access to β,β-Diarylacroleins: Synthesis of 3-Arylindanones

Towards the synthesis of symmetrical and unsymmetrical β,β-diarylacroleins for assembling diarylmethine fragments present in biologically important molecules, we have developed a new Weinreb amide (WA) based building block, derived from propiolic acid. The WA functionality present in this compound allowed the sequential addition of various arylmagnesium bromide reagents in a controlled manner. The developed methodology for the access to β,β-diarylacroleins has been utilised for the synthesis of biologically important 3-arylindanone molecules. Synthesis of both symmetrical and unsymmetrical β,β-diarylacrolein and diarylmethine fragments, have been achieved via easily accessible and hitherto unknown Weinreb Amide (WA) based building block 11. The WA functionality allowed the sequential addition of nucleophiles such as arylmagnesium bromide in a controlled manner, which has enabled the synthesis of an important 3-arylindanone molecule.