Lewis acid mediated reactions of cyclopropyl aryl ketones with arylaldehydes, facile preparation of 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1,3-diarylpropenones

In the presence of Lewis acid TMSOTf, ring-opening reaction of aryl cyclopropyl ketone with arylaldehyde took place under mild conditions to give 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1,3-diarylpropenone in good yield through an atom-economic process. Protection of hydroxy group with triethylsilyl group (TES), the corresponding ring-opened product 7 was obtained in high yield with good geometrical selectivity.