Anup Bhunia, Santhivardhana Reddy Yetra, Rajesh G. Gonnade and Akkattu T. Biju
Org. Biomol. Chem., 2016,14, 5612-5616
DOI:
10.1039/C6OB00654J,
Communication
In an attempt to develop the umpolung of Michael acceptors using chalcones having an enoate moiety under N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalysis, a K3PO4-mediated intramolecular Rauhut–Currier type reaction was observed. This C(sp2)–C(sp2) coupling reaction afforded the biologically important 4H-chromenes in moderate to good yields. It is likely that the enol ether functionality acts as the nucleophilic trigger in this reaction.