Variations in the blaise reaction: Conceptually new synthesis of 3-amino enones and 1,3-diketones

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/ejoc.201403402

Organic compounds with 3-amino enone or 1,3-diketone functional groups are extremely important, as they can be converted into a plethora of heterocyclic or carbocyclic compounds, or can be used as ligands in metal complexes. We have achieved a new, easy, straightforward and convenient synthesis of 3-amino enones and 1,3-diketones starting from aryl/heteroaryl/alkyl nitriles and 1-aryl/alkyl 2-bromoethanones. The reaction is a variation of the classical Blaise reaction, and it works with zinc and trimethylsilyl chloride as an activator. By running the hydrolysis of the reaction intermediate with HCl (3 N aq.) at 0-30 °C or at 100 °C, it is possible to form either 3-amino enones or 1,3-diketones, respectively. The newly developed method was used for the synthesis of avobenzone, an ingredient of sun-screen lotions. Furthermore, an easy synthesis of (Z)-3-amino-1-[4-(tertbutyl) phenyl]-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one, with UV/Vis absorption characteristics similar to those of avobenzone, was also achieved.