Solvent-free multicomponent synthesis of 2-arylpyridines using p-sulfonic acid calix[6]arene as a reusable catalyst

Abstract

An efficient methodology for obtaining 2-arylpyrimidines based on the use of p-sulfonic acid calix[6]arene as an organocatalyst is proposed. The methodology involves the formation of 1,2-dihydropyridine intermediates using a variety of aromatic aldehydes with methyl or ethyl acetoacetate and ammonium acetate, which are the same starting materials as in the Hantzsch reaction, under solvent-free reaction conditions, at 25 °C, followed by air oxidation for 12 h. The catalyst efficiency is not compromised after its successive use in reactions. Eleven examples were obtained with very good to excellent yields of 2-arylpyridines (92–62%). This is the first report about the use of calixarenes as catalysts in the multicomponent synthesis of 2-arylpyridines (molecules with potential biological activity).