Acrylamide in Rauhut-Currier reaction; intramolecular isomerization of activated alkenes for quinolone synthesis

Acrylamides are fundamental Michael acceptors which have been used profoundly in synthetic, medicinal and polymer chemistry. However, due to their lower reactivity they have been least used in Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) reaction and have been out of its vinylogus version Rauhut Currier (RC) reaction. Herein, use of acrylamide in RC reaction is being presented. Intramolecular RC reaction followed by [1,3]-H shift led to the synthesis of quinolone moiety. DABCO catalyzed IRC reaction of acrylamide at 80 °C in presence of water, was found to work on a number of precursors. En route chemo selective, gram scale method for ambiphilic, versatile precursor 2-amino chalcone is also reported. Chemoselective and economical conversion of 2-nitro chalcone to 2-aryl quinoline has also been developed.

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