A facile and one-pot synthesis of new tetrahydrobenzo[b]pyrans in water under microwave irradiation

Eleven new tetrahydrobenzo[b]pyran derivatives were synthesized via a three component reaction of different aromatic aldehydes, methyl cyanoacetate and 1,3-cyclohexadione, with water as solvent under catalyst-free microwave irradiation. The structures of all the new molecules were well analysed and their structures established by using various spectral techniques (1H NMR, 13C NMR, 15N NMR and HRMS). Various advantages of reported protocol are the ease of preparation, short reaction times (10 min), aqueous solvent and excellent yields (89–98%). Additionally, this method provides a clean access to the desired products by simple workup.[graphic not available: see fulltext]