A metal-free method for the facile synthesis of indanones via the intramolecular hydroacylation of 2-vinylbenzaldehyde

Abstract

A facile method for the synthesis of indanones was developed under metal- and additive-free conditions, wherein L-proline served as an efficient and environmentally benign catalyst. Compared with previously synthesized indanones, synthesis by the transition-metal-catalyzed intramolecular hydroacylation of 2-vinylbenzaldehyde provided a more green synthetic pathway to indanone scaffolds with good to excellent yields. More importantly, it could be used to synthsize the anti-AD drug donepezil.