Cu(OAc)2 catalysed aerobic oxidation of aldehydes to nitriles under ligand-free conditions.

An economically efficient and environmentally benign approach for the direct oxidative transformation of aldehydes to nitriles has been developed using commercially available non-toxic copper acetate as an inexpensive catalyst and ammonium acetate as the source of nitrogen in the presence of aerial oxygen as an eco-friendly oxidant under ligand-free conditions. The reactions were associated with high yield and various sensitive moieties like allyloxy, benzyloxy, t-butyldimethylsilyloxy, hetero-aryl, formyl, keto, chloro, bromo, methylenedioxy and cyano were well tolerated in the aforesaid method. The kinetic studies showed first order dependency on the aldehyde substrate in the reaction rate. The reaction was faster with the electron deficient aldehydes as confirmed by Hammett analysis. Moreover, the present oxidative method was effective on larger scales showing potential for industrial application.

Substituted 3-E-styryl-2H-chromenes and 3-E-styryl-2H-thiochromenes: synthesis, photophysical studies, anticancer activity, and exploration to tricyclic benzopyran skeleton.

A series of densely substituted 2H-chromenes and 2H-thiochromenes were synthesized in good yield through cyanuric chloride-dimethylformamide mediated cleavage of different spiro-4-hydroxychroman-3,1'-cyclopropanes and similar thiochroman analogues. This protocol involves operationally very simple, facile and cost-effective reactions using easily accessible reagents under mild reaction condition with tolerance of a variety of sensitive moieties. Results of steady state and time-resolved absorption and emission spectroscopy highlighted the potential of these compounds as fluorescence probes and designated the suitability for subcellular bioimaging. The prepared 2H-chromenes demonstrated profound cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 cell line. DFT calculations were done on a representative compound where the results indicated promising reactivity of the title compounds as electron-donating dienes. As a continuation, some of these compounds underwent [4 + 2] Diels-Alder cycloaddition with electron-deficient dienophiles in the absence of any activator or catalyst, which provided an easy access to an array of hitherto unreported molecular frameworks related to bioactive cannabinoid skeletons. These newly constructed Diels-Alder adducts also bear substantial antiproliferative properties.

Dioxane dibromide mediated bromination of substituted coumarins under solvent-free conditions.

An efficient solvent-free protocol for regioselective bromination of substituted coumarins has been developed by using dioxane dibromide as the solid brominating agent. The efficacy of the solvent-free protocol has been established. The effects of the electronic nature and location of the substituents on the outcome of the reaction have been rationalized with a proposed mechanism.

"On-water" catalyst-free ecofriendly synthesis of the hantzsch dihydropyridines.

An eco-friendly "on-water" protocol for efficient catalyst-free synthesis of the Hantzsch dihydropyridines from aryl, heteroaryl, alkyl, and vinylogous aldehydes has been developed with minimum auxiliary substances, toxic reagents, organic solvents, and disposal problems.

Systematic investigations on the reduction of 4-aryl-4-oxoesters to 1-aryl-1,4-butanediols with methanolic sodium borohydride.

4-Aryl-4-oxoesters undergo facile reduction of both the keto and the ester groups with methanolic NaBH4 at room temperature to yield the corresponding 1-aryl-1,4-butanediols whereas 4-alkyl-4-oxoesters furnish the corresponding 1,4-butanolides via selective reduction of the keto moiety. Results of a detailed and systematic investigation of the reaction are described.