A Catecholaldimine-Based Ni-Complex as an Effective Catalyst for the Direct Conversion of Alcohols to -Cinnamonitriles and Aldehydes.

A nickel(II) complex [Ni(HL)] was synthesized by treatment of a new catecholaldimine-based ligand with NiCl·6HO in methanol at room temperature. Complex showed excellent catalytic activity where aromatic and heterocyclic alcohols were rapidly converted into -cinnamonitrile in a one-pot manner via oxidative olefination in the presence of KOH. The potential of the disclosed catalyst and the results obtained for the direct conversion of alcohols to two different functionalities (-cinnamonitrile and aldehydes) are well supported by DFT studies.

Effective Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Functionalized 2,3-Dihydrofuro[3,2-]coumarins via an Imidazole-Catalyzed Green Multicomponent Approach.

For the first time, an eco-friendly and efficient one-pot green multicomponent approach has been described to synthesize functionalized -2,3-dihydrofuro[3,2-]coumarins (DHFCs). In this synthesis, imidazole and water were used as the catalyst and solvent, respectively, under mild conditions. Applications of the developed catalytic process in a water medium revealed the outstanding activity, productivity, and broad functional group tolerance, affording a series of newly designed DHFC and derivatives in excellent yields (72-98%).