Studies on montmorillonite K10-microwave assisted isomerisation of Baylis-Hillman adduct. Synthesis of E-trisubstituted alkenes and synthetic application to lignan core structures by vinyl radical cyclization

The isomerisation of acetates from the Baylis-Hillman adducts with Mont.K10 clay-microwave combination furnished E-trisubstituted alkenes in high yield. The simple Baylis-Hillman adducts with trimethyl orthoformate and unsaturated alcohols under clay catalytic condition gave densely functionalised-isomerized products under solvent free condition. Application of the propargyl derivatives thus obtained from the isomerisation of the Baylis-Hillman adducts with propargyl alcohol has been demonstrated in the synthesis of lignan core structures by tri-n-butyltin hydride mediated vinyl radical cyclization.