Metal-free syntheses of new azocines via addition reactions of enaminones with acenaphthoquinone followed by oxidative cleavages of the corresponding vicinal diols.

A one-pot, clean and green procedure is described for the syntheses of new azocine derivatives via addition reactions of enaminones with acenaphthoquinone followed by periodic acid-mediated oxidative cleavages of the corresponding vicinal diols. Various derivatives of azocine were prepared and well characterized. The excellent yields, simple synthesis procedure, lack of a need to carry out any tedious work-up and column chromatography, metal-free catalysis, and mild reaction conditions are important features of this protocol.