Direct Intramolecular Coupling of Primary/Secondary Alcohols with Secondary Alcohols for Macrocyclic Alkenylation Using Ni‐Zeolite Catalyst Under Continuous‐Flow Conditions

Abstract

Herein, we report the direct intramolecular coupling of primary and secondary alcohols for the selective synthesis of macrocyclic olefins in the presence of Ni‐zeolite catalyst under continuous flow. This reaction proceeds via dehydration of secondary alcohols to alkenes, which subsequently undergo intramolecular dehydrative coupling reaction with a primary alcohol to obtain moderate yields of macrocyclic olefins. This reaction is also effective for the coupling of secondary‐secondary alcohols and alkene‐alcohols to produce diverse macrocyclic olefin products. This unique approach has various advantages including step‐economy, no additives and pre‐functionalization required, inexpensive and reusable catalysts, and exemplification with 23 macrocycles in different ring sizes. The continuous flow macrocyclisation afforded higher productivity and space‐time yield than the batch reaction conditions.