Regioselective Synthesis of Functionally Crowded Benzenes at Room Temperature through Ring Transformation of 2H-Pyran-2-ones

Abstract

An expeditious synthesis of highly substituted benzenes with electron-withdrawing or electron-donating substituents is ­described and illustrated by carbanion-induced ring transformation of 2H-pyran-2-one with malononitrile in excellent yield. The ­novelty of the reaction lies in the creation of an aromatic ring at room temperature from a six-membered lactone under mild reaction conditions.