Research Projects

Methyl enol ethers (MEE) are versatile building blocks with amphibilic nature. The unique reactivity approach of MEE leading to the synthesis of various useful natural and unnatural skeletons. The MEE derivatives also have been used as for the construction of (-)-clusianone with evaluation of anti-HIV activity, arcutindine and stellettadine A natural products. Ongoing research on miscellaneous reactivity of MEE in our laboratory promoting us to explore the reactions of MEE for the synthesis of bioactive derivatives like naphthalene, phenanthrene, furocoumarins, eneamide, N-alkenylindole and dihydrobenzofuran. Heteroatom containing compounds are one of the most important molecules in organic chemistry because of their significant and diverse biological activities. C-O and C-N bond formation reactions play a crucial role, for the introduction of O/N in organic molecules. In this context, we have performed an exploratory reaction for providing proof of reaction, using MEE with 4-hydroxycoumarin under metal-free condition for the synthesis of furocoumarins derivative. Surprisingly, we observed selective pathways for the synthesis of dihydrofurocoumarins and furocoumarins by the control of reaction condition. We have also done an exploratory reaction for the synthesis of naphthalene, enamide, N-alkenylindole and dihydrobenzofuran derivatives from MEE for the confirmation of our hypothetical aspect. Our preliminary results for the synthesis of these scaffold are quite exciting (vide infra) and satisfactory information has been included in this proposal. Several diversities point with regards to wide substrate scope of MEE, commercially available of thousands of corresponded ketones would allow the synthesis fairly good number of MEE and other reacting partners also available in broad substrate scope.