ZrOCl2•8H2O:: an efficient Lewis acid catalyst for the one-pot multicomponent synthesis of β-acetamido ketones

Aromatic aldehydes were reacted in one-pot with enolisable ketones, acetonitrile and acctyl chloride at ambient temperature in the presence of ZrOCl2 center dot 8H(2)O to furnish the corresponding beta-acetamido ketones in very good to excellent yields. X-ray crystallographic analysis of one anti-beta-acetamido ketone exhibited a two-dimensional supramolecular framework by a combination of N-H center dot center dot center dot O, C-H center dot center dot center dot O and C-H center dot center dot center dot pi (arene) hydrogen bonds. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.