Novel One-Pot Cyclization Reactions: Synthesis of Pentasubstituted Cyclohexane Derivatives Containing Chiral Carbon Atoms

Two novel cyclohexane derivatives, [2,6-bis(4-chloro/bromophenyl)-4-hydroxy-4-(pyridin-2-yl)­cyclohexane-1,3-diyl]bis(pyridin-2-ylmethanones), were synthesized in one step from 2-acetylpyridine and 4-chloro- or 4-bromobenzaldehyde with high yield under mild conditions. The reaction sequence is likely to include the formation of chalcone, Cannizzaro reaction, and one-pot cyclization, and this process represents a new strategy in cyclization reactions. The synthesized compounds showed fluorescence in the region λ 320–450 nm, and their structure was confirmed by spectroscopic data, as well as by X-ray analysis.