Electrosynthesis of New Xanthene-1,8(2H)-Dione Derivatives-A Green Chemistry Approach

The xanthene-1,8(2H)-dione group is a constituent of the structures of a series of natural products with interesting biological and pharmacological activities such as anticoagulant, anticancer, spasmolytic, antianaphylactic, etc. The importance of these compounds has led many workers to synthesize these compounds using different methods. Each of the reported methods has its own merits and demerits, such as limitations of poor yields, difficult work-up and toxic. An efficient and convenient synthesis of tetrahydrobenzo[b]pyrans is described, using an electro generated base of the anion of dimedone in a one-pot, condensation of an aromatic aldehyde, and two molecules of dimedone compound. The reaction is carried out at room temperature in water/acetonitrile solution with the use of an anode in a single- compartment cell.