Stereoselective reduction of 1-acyl-2-phenylacetylenes with triphenylphosphine in water: efficient synthesis of E-chalcones

Abstract

1-Acyl-2-phenylacetylenes are reduced with triphenylphosphine in water under mild conditions (room temperature, without catalyst and organic solvent, 3 h) to afford (E)-1-acyl-2phenylethenes (chalcones) in high yields (83-91%).