Novel one-pot, three-component condensation reaction: an efficient approach for the synthesis of γ-Iminolactone derivatives in the presence of water

Recently, a great attention has been focused on the use of water as green solvent in various organic transformations. In addition to its abundance and for economical and safety reasons, water has naturally become as a substitute and an alternative environmentally benign solvent in organic synthesis [1]. Due to atom economy, simplicity, and amenability to automated synthesis, multicomponent condensation reactions (MCRs) have an advantageous position among other reactions. The ability of on isonitrile to undergo easy R-addition with a nucleophile and on electrophile under mild conditions has made them popular reactants for the development of novel MCRs [2]. Recently, iminolactones have been the subject of great consideration because of their effects as antibacterial agents, aldosterone inhibitors, and proper precursors for the preparation of a wide spectrum of natural compounds [3]. As part of our ongoing program to develop efficient and robust methods for the preparation of organic compounds [4], we describe a clean and efficient process for three-component reaction between alkyl isocyanides, dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates and phenacyl halides in water at room temperature, leading to yield -iminolactone derivatives. The structures of the products were deduced from their IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and mass spectrometry. In summary, we have fund water as novel reaction medium for the synthesis of highly functionalized -iminolactones derivatives. This procedure offers significant advantages such as operational simplicity, mild reaction conditions, enhanced rates, ease of isolation of products, cleaner reaction profiles and eco-friendly nature of the solvent, which makes it useful and attractive strategy for the synthesis of -iminolactones derivatives.