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Updated: Sep 6, 2026

Efficient Synthesis of Polyfunctionalized Benzenes in Water via Persulfate-promoted Benzannulation of α,β-Unsaturated Compounds and Alkynes
Published on: December 16, 2019
Acid-Catalyzed Benzylation Enabled by Benzyl 4-Methylpent-4-enoate
Zhihua Liang1, Zhiwen Liao1, Yue Li1
1Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan430030, China.
Abstract:
A benzylating method enabled by acid-catalyzed hydrolactonization of benzyl 4-methylpent-4-enoate (BMP) was reported. Key advantages of the method include the structural simplicity, stability, and synthetic scalability of the reagents, mild and weakly acid catalytic conditions with excellent functional group tolerance, and high efficiency with broad applicability to various alcohols. Moreover, this method is further expanded to efficient naphthylmethylation and steroidation. The latter facilitates diversity-oriented synthesis of pseudo-steroidal glycosides.
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