Synthesis of 3-benzoyl-3,4-dihydro-2H- and 3,4-dihydro-2,2-disubstituted-benzopyrans via alkynyl grignard reagents

The versatility of the new route to a substituted chromane via a lithiated allene recently described by us [1] is reported. The relatively more stable alkynols 2–4 were readily identified and thus provide evidence for the formation of vinyl acetylene carbinol as an intermediate in the new route. Accordingly, phenylacetylene magnesium bromide [2] reacted with suitable aldehyde or ketone to give the alkynols 2–4 which condensed further with the same or different aldehyde or ketone to give 3-benzoyl heteroring-substituted chromanes 5–17.