Multicomponent, solvent-free synthesis of β-aryl-β-mercapto ketones using zirconium chloride as a catalyst

Zirconium chloride efficiently catalyzes the one-pot, three-component reaction of an aryl aldehyde, cyclic or acyclic enolizable ketones, and thiols under solvent-free conditions at room temperature to afford the corresponding beta-aryl-beta-mercaptoketones via aldol-Michael addition reactions. This methodology affords a large number of beta-aryl-beta-mercapto ketone derivatives in high yields and in short reaction times. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.