title: Catalytic intramolecular crossed aldehyde--ketone benzoin reactions: a novel synthesis of functionalized preanthraquinones.
abstract: Stereochemically and functionally rich polycyclic compounds are obtained by the first crossed aldehyde-ketone benzoin reaction in excellent yield under mild reaction conditions (5-20 mol % thiazolium salt, 10-70 mol % DBU, tBuOH, 40 degrees C, 30 min). This novel catalytic methodology offers a convenient approach to sophisticated molecular architectures useful for the stereocontrolled construction of polycyclic compounds as well as the fully regiocontrolled synthesis of anthra- and naphthoquinones.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Tokyo Institute of Technology and CREST, Japan Science and Technology Corporation, O-okayama, Meguro-Ku, Tokyo 152-8551, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshifumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hachisu
authors.forename: Jeffrey W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Bode
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suzuki