[4 + 2] Cycloaromatization of 4-Bis(methylthio)-3-buten-2-one with Active Methylene Ketones: A Simple and Facile Phenol Annulation

A new method for beta-phenol annulation involving base-induced [4C + 2C] cycloaromatization of readily available 4-bis(methylthio)-3-buten-2-one with a variety of cyclic and acyclic active methylene ketones has been reported. Appropriate choice of ketones allows synthesis of diverse frameworks such as dihydroindan, tetrahydronaphthalenes, their higher homologues, dihydro/octahydrophenanthrenes, anthracene, and heteroannulated analogue in high yields with regiocontrol of phenolic functionality.