A novel cyclization/oxidation strategy for a two-step synthesis of (Z)-aurone.

An efficient and facile two-step strategy for the synthesis of ( Z )-aurone from arylacetylenes and salicyladehydes, via silver(I) nitrate mediated cyclization/oxidation in the presence of potassium carbonate has been developed. The key feature of our method was delicate cascade reaction, to provide the corresponding ( Z )-aurone in high yield and good regio- and stereo selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]