Domino Knoevenagel/Michael addition/C-acylation reactions. Synthesis of 1,3-cyclohexane-1,3-diones.

The three component reactions of Meldrum's acid, 1,3-bis-(benzotriazol-1-yl)propan-2-one or 1-benzotriazol-1-ylpropan-2-one and an aldehyde, carried out in DMF at 60 °C gave rise to 2,4-bis-(benzotriazol-1-yl)cyclohexane-1,3-diones or 4-benzotriazol-1-ylcyclohexane-1,3-diones, respectively, in fairly high yields. Unlike similar reactions reported earlier with acetone, the reactions with 1,3-bis-(benzotriazol-1-yl)propan-2-one and 1-benzotriazol-1-ylpropan-2-one proceeded via an intramolecular acylation of the other methyl group of acetone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]