The Implication of Electrocatalysis in MCR Strategy: Electrocatalytic Multicomponent Transformation of Cyclic 1,3‐Diketones, Aldehydes and Malononitrile into Substituted 5,6,7,8‐Tetrahydro‐4<i>H</i>‐Chromenes

Abstract

Abstract The electrochemically induced catalytic multicomponent transformation of cyclic 1,3‐diketones, aldehydes and malononitrile in alcoholic solvents results in the formation of substituted 5,6,7,8‐tetrahydro‐4 H ‐chromenes in 85–95 % yields. The reaction is performed in an undivided cell in the presence of sodium bromide as an electrolyte. The application of this efficient electrocatalytic method to the formation of tetrahydro‐4 H ‐chromenes is beneficial for diversity‐oriented large‐scale processes. The novel concept of an electrocatalytic multicomponent reaction is also ecologically sound. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH &amp; Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2006)