Optimized one-pot synthesis of monoarylidene and unsymmetrical diarylidene cycloalkanones

Ionic liquid dimethylammonium dimethylcarbamate (DIMCARB) catalyzed reaction for the synthesis of monoarylidene and unsymmetrical diarylidene cycloalkanones has been developed. Catalytic amount of DIMCARB was used in green solvent (water and ethanol) for different reaction of cyclic and acyclic ketones with different electron donating and withdrawing substituted aldehydes. Yields were recorded from low to excellent. This synthetic methodology provides mild, efficient, and environmentally friendly access to unsymmetrical curcuminoid analogs, avoiding the use of excess catalysts, chlorinated organic solvent, and high temperature reaction. It is green and environmentally sound alternative to the existing protocols for the synthesis of pharmaceutically important unsymmetrical natural product analogs. (C) 2016 The Authors. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of King Saud University.