Synthesis of 2,3-syn-diarylpent-4-enamides via acyl-Claisen rearrangements of substituted cinnamyl morpholines: application to the synthesis of magnosalicin

The acyl-Claisen rearrangement of substituted phenylacetyl chlorides and cinnamyl morpholines gives 2,3-syn-diarylpent-4-enamides. Electron-rich cinnamyl morpholines containing alkoxy substituents only reacted with phenylacetyl chlorides; replacement of the phenylacetyl chlorides with alkyl acid chlorides in these reactions gave no rearranged products. Use of the morpholine amides generated in the synthesis of the natural tetrahydrofuran neolignan magnosalicin and tetraphenyl tetrahydrofuran is also reported.