Three-step Reaction Research Articles

Synthesis of (Z)-Enediynes via Stereoinvertive Nucleophilic Substitution of (E)-Sulfonylethenes with Arylethynide, and Their Aggregation-Induced Optical Properties.

(Z)-Enediynes were successfully synthesized from a trio of terminal ethynes through consecutive three-step reactions: iodosulfonylation of ethyne with I2/PhSO2Na, followed by ethynylations of iodo and sulfonyl moieties of the resulting iodosulfonylethene via Sonogashira-Hagihara coupling and nucleophilic addition-elimination, respectively. The molecular structure of the obtained (Z)-enediyne was fully characterized by X-ray crystal structure analysis, revealing that the nucleophilic substitution of (E)-sulfonylethene with arylethynide underwent a selective stereoinversion. The (Z)-enediynes exhibited photoluminescence in both the solution and solid states (crystals and powders). Ph2N-substituted derivatives showed remarkable solvatofluorochromism, and upon replacing the solvent from toluene to acetonitrile, the emission color changed from blue to yellow.

Synthesis of new triazole derivatives and their potential applications for removal of heavy metals from aqueous solution and antibacterial activities

In this paper, triazole derivatives were prepared by a three-step mild reaction using carbon disulfide as starting material. In face of microbial threats, we found that compound 3-cyclopropyl-[1,2,4]triazolo [3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazole-6-thiol (C2) has good antibacterial activity, inhibition and clearance ability against biofilms, low hemolytic activity and toxicity, good anti-inflammatory activity. At the same time, we found that B and C series compounds have good metal ion scavenging ability, with removal rates of C series ranging from 47% to 67% and B series ranging from 67% to 87%.

Benzo-Fused BOPAM Fluorophores: Synthesis, Post-functionalization, Photophysical Properties and Acid sensing Applications.

A novel category of asymmetric boron chromophores with the attachment of two BF2 moieties denoted as BOPAM has been successfully synthesized via a one-pot three-step reaction starting from N-phenylbenzothioamide. This synthetic route results in the production of [a] and [b]benzo-fused BOPAMs along with post-functionalization of the [a]benzo-fused BOPAMs. The photophysical properties of these compounds have been systematically investigated through steady-state absorption and fluorescence emission measurements in solvents at both ambient and cryogenic temperatures, as well as in the solid state. Computational methods have been employed to elucidate the emissive characteristics of the benzo-fused BOPAMs, revealing distinctive photophysical attributes, including solvent-dependent fluorescence intensity. Remarkably, certain BOPAM derivatives exhibit noteworthy photophysical phenomena, such as the induction of off-on fluorescence emission under specific solvent conditions and the manifestation of intermolecular charge transfer states in solid-state matrices. Through post-functionalization strategies involving the introduction of electron-donating groups onto the [a]benzo-fused BOPAM scaffold, an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) pathway is activated, leading to substantial fluorescence quenching via non-radiative decay processes. Notably, one [a]benzo-fused BOPAM variant exhibits a pronounced fluorescence enhancement upon exposure to acidic conditions, thereby underscoring its potential utility in pH-sensing applications.

Potent α-glucosidase inhibitors with benzimidazole-propionitrile hybridization; synthesis, bioassay and docking study.

Background: Diabetes is characterized by a lack of insulin and insensitivity to insulin. In 2013, the global diabetes population was 382million, with 90% of them having type 2 diabetes (non-insulin-dependent). It is predicted that this number will increase to 592million by 2035.Aim: Here, we aimed to synthesize a series of benzimidazole-based derivatives B1-B32 with α-glucosidase inhibition potential as antidiabetic agents.Methods: Compounds B1-B32 were prepared in three three-step reactions, and the structures were elucidated using spectroscopic methods, namely 1H NMR, 13C NMR, MS and IR. Enzyme inhibition and kinetic study were done using commercial assay kits, and molecular docking study using autodock4.Results: Bioassay data showed that twenty-four out of the thirty-two tested compounds exhibited IC50 values ranging from 44 to 745μM, surpassing the standard molecule, acarbose (IC50: 750μM). it was determined that the best compound, B10, functions as a competitive inhibitor. Additionally, a molecular docking study provided insights into the interactions between the four most promising compounds (B5, B6, B10 and B28) and the active site residues within the enzyme.Conclusion: The tested compounds are interesting α-glucosidase inhibitors, which indicates the benefit of more bioassay studies, especially in vivo studies.

Enabling high-performance organic copper metal batteries via ultralow-concentration iron ion redox

The stable coordination of chloride ions in aqueous CuCl2 electrolyte results in the coexistence of Cu2+ and Cu+, rendering it a promising electrolyte capable of facilitating various redox reactions. However, the significant challenge arises from the strong combination reaction between aqueous CuCl2 electrolyte and metallic copper, hindering the development of cost-effective copper metal batteries based on variable-valence copper ion electrolytes. Herein, utilizing the synergistic effect of electrolytes, a novel copper metal battery is constructed with a 1 m Cu(OTf)2 + 0.05 m FeCl3 organic electrolyte based on the N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) system. Mechanism investigations reveal that the organic electrolyte achieves three-step stable redox reactions in both Cu||PANI battery and Cu||CuFe-PBA battery. Intriguingly, the coordination of ultralow-concentration chloride ions effectively stabilizes Cu+ and enables two independent redox reactions (Cu2+/Cu+ and Cu+/Cu0). Concurrently, ultralow-concentration of Fe3+ facilitates the mutual conversion to Fe2+, which is very rare redox process in electrochemical energy storage. Consequently, the designed organic copper ion electrolyte with 0.05 m FeCl3 additive exhibits outstanding thermodynamic stability towards metallic copper, enabling the Cu||Cu symmetric battery to maintain a cycle lifespan of 4000 h (∼167 days) at 0.5 mA h cm−2, which is the highest one among copper-ion batteries up to date. Benefitting from the redox of Fe3+/Fe2+, the Cu||PANI battery exhibits a high capacity retention of 85.60 % after 2000 cycles. This work opens up unprecedented possibilities of optimizing electrolyte formulations for copper metal batteries.

Electrochemical behavior of tantalum ions in molten salt electrolysis for nano-powder preparation

This research focused on analyzing the electrochemical properties of tantalum ions in NaCl-KCl molten salt during the extraction of tantalum and the synthesis of tantalum nano-powder. Tantalum ions were dissolved from the anode. Linear sweep voltammetry, cyclic voltammetry, square wave voltammetry, and chronoamperometry were employed to delve into the reduction and diffusion processes of tantalum ions. The study determined the diffusion coefficient, the nucleation process, and the deposition potential for tantalum ions. The findings revealed that the electrode reduction process of tantalum ions involved a three-step reaction: Ta5+→Ta3+→Ta+→Ta. This reaction was shown to be reversible and diffusion-controlled. The nucleation mode of tantalum ions was identified as instantaneous nucleation followed by progressive nucleation as the potential increased by chronoamperometry analysis. The cathodic deposition product was characterized using XRD, SEM, EDS, and TEM techniques, confirming the nanoscale granular nature and microstructure of the deposition products.

Deciphering the energy storage mechanism of CoS2 nanowire arrays for High-Energy aqueous copper-ion batteries

Transition metal sulfide (TMs) offers ultra-high specific capacity through multi-electron transfer, showing promise for aqueous batteries. However, the poor cycling performance and the uncleared energy storage mechanism are restricted from further development. Herein, CoS2 nanowire arrays grown on carbon cloth (CoS2/CC) are proposed as binder-free and self-supporting electrodes for aqueous copper-ion batteries. The energy storage mechanism is clarified by a series of ex-situ tests: a multi-electron electrode reaction through a three-step reaction of CoS2 → CuS → Cu7S4 → Cu2S. Electrochemical results suggest that the CoS2/CC cathode exhibits excellent long cycle stability (capacity retention of 99.7 % after 1000 cycles at 10 A/g) along with high specific capacity (762.3 mAh g−1 at 1 A/g). The carbon cloth with stable three-dimensional (3D) conductive structure can not only offer high-speed pathways to promote the transfer of electrons but also inhibit the volume change. Meanwhile, CoS2 nanowire arrays with high surface-to-volume ratios can improve wettability of electrolyte and promote redox reactions. Furthermore, an advanced Zn-CoS2/CC hybrid ion aqueous battery reveals an energy density of 724 Wh kg−1 and an output voltage of 1.24 V, providing a promising strategy for the establishment of transition metal sulfide cathode in high-energy aqueous batteries.

Design, synthesis, characterization and antidiabetic evaluation of 3,5-substituted thiazolidinediones: Evidenced by network pharmacology, Molecular docking, dynamic simulation, in vitro and in vivo assessment

In search of new antidiabetic agents, heterocyclic compounds containing 3,5-Substituted thiazolidinedione moieties were synthesized through a concise three-step reaction process. The synthesis involved Knoevenagel condensation at the 5th position of the 3,5-Substituted thiazolidinedione ring-system (6a-6c). Comprehensive physicochemical and spectral analyses, including FTIR, HR-MS, 1H NMR and 13C NMR, were performed to characterize the synthesized compounds. The synthesized derivatives were subjected to evaluation for their In vivo anti-diabetic activity against diabetes induced wistar rats and In vitro activity against α-amylase, α-glucosidase and glucose uptake by yeast cells. On the basis of the combined results of network pharmacology, In vitro and animal study experiments revealed that the compounds 6c predicted to have the greatest effect out of the compounds (6a-6c), showing interactions with targets exhibited potential binding patterns against the active site of target α-amylase, α-glucosidase with modulating AMY2A, GAA, PPARG, PIK3CA, PRKCB, INSR, and PRKCB signalling pathways and this is evidenced by molecular docking, dynamics simulation (MD) studies. Further, compound 6c showed In vitro α-amylase, α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with IC50 value of 86.06 ± 1.1 μM and 74.97 ± 1.23 μM as opposed to standard acarbose (IC50 value of 26.89 ± 3.12 and 29.25 ± 0.15 μM) and 58.23 ± 0.13 % of glucose uptake and also exhibited significant reduction (p < 0.001) in blood glucose levels (114 ± 1.17 mg/dL) comparable to the effect of pioglitazone (102.2 ± 0.79 mg/dL). The present study suggests that modified thiazolidinediones act as potential lead compounds to carter the need of antidiabetic agents.

Exploring The Antimicrobial Potential of Novel 1,2,4‒Triazole Conjugates with Pyrazole: Synthesis, Biological Activity and In Silico Docking.

In the present study, a new series of 1,2,4‒triazole linked pyrazole hybrids (5a‒5l) were synthesized from dimethyl amino pyrazole (1) in good yield by three-step reaction. The chemical structures of the resulted compounds were thoroughly elucidated using spectral analyses such as IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, mass spectra and elemental analysis. The target compounds were screened for their antimicrobial activities against the various standard pathogen strains, Gram‒(‒ve) (E. coli, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, A. baumannii), and Gram‒(+ve) (S. aureus,S. faecalis) microorganisms. According to the results obtained, in particular, compounds 5b, 5f, 5h and 5j was effective at inhibiting the antibacterial growth of all the bacteria's, having MIC values ranging 0.983‒14.862 mg/mL and compared to moxifloxacin (1.391‒22.01 mg mL-1). The most active compounds were chosen to interact with the DNA gyrase and topoisomerase-IV targets via molecular docking. These selected ligands interacted with PDB targets 2XCO, 1S16 and docked into the active site of amino acids Ala-269, Gly-413, Asn-405, Ser-1182, Thr-1185, His-1186, His-1186, Lys-1189, and Trp-1213.The pharmacokinetic properties, stability, and drug-likeness parameters of all target molecules were estimated using SwissADME and PkCSM protocols. The current study used in silico approaches combining e-pharmacophore modeling and structure-based molecular docking of targets to identify antimicrobial agents.

Redesigning glycolaldehyde synthase for the synthesis of biorefinery feedstock D-xylulose from C1 compounds.

Global climate deterioration intensifies the demand for exploiting efficient CO2 utilization approaches. Converting CO2 to biorefinery feedstock affords an alternative strategy for third-generation biorefineries. However, upcycling CO2 into complex chiral carbohydrates remains a major challenge. Previous attempts at sugar synthesis from CO2 either produce mixtures with poor stereoselectivity or require ATP as a cofactor. Here, by redesigning glycolaldehyde synthase, the authors constructed a synthetic pathway for biorefinery feedstock D-xylulose from CO2 that does not require ATP as a cofactor. The artificial D-xylulose pathway only requires a three-step enzyme cascade reaction to achieve the stereoselective synthesis of D-xylulose at a concentration of 1.2gL-1. Our research opens up an alternative route toward future production of chemicals and fuels from CO2.

One-Pot Catalytic Cascade for the Depolymerization of the Lignin β-O-4 Motif to Non-phenolic Dealkylated Aromatics.

Aromatic monomers obtained by selective depolymerization of the lignin β-O-4 motif are typically phenolic and contain (oxygenated) alkyl substitutions. This work reveals the potential of a one-pot catalytic lignin β-O-4 depolymerization cascade strategy that yields a uniform set of methoxylated aromatics without alkyl side-chains. This cascade consists of selective acceptorless dehydrogenation of the γ-hydroxy group, subsequent retro-aldol reaction cleaving the Cα-Cβ bond followed by in situ acceptorless decarbonylation of the formed aldehydes. This three-step cascade reaction, catalyzed by an iridium(I)-BINAP complex, resulted in 75% 1,2-dimethoxybenzene from G-type lignin dimers alongside syngas (CO:H2 ≈ 1.4:1). Applying this method to a synthetic G-type polymer, 11 wt% 1,2-dimethoxybenzene was obtained. This versatile compound can be easily transformed into 3,4-dimethoxyphenol, a valuable precursor for pharmaceutical synthesis, through enzymatic catalytic approach. Moreover, the hydrodeoxygenation potential of 1,2-dimethoxybenzene offers a pathway to produce valuable cyclohexane or benzene derivatives, presenting enticing opportunities for sustainable chemical transformations without the necessity for phenolic mixture upgrading via dealkylation.

Biotinylated polyaminoacid-based nanoparticles for the targeted delivery of lenvatinib towards hepatocarcinoma

In this work, we describe the development of targeted polymeric nanoparticles loaded with lenvatinib for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A synthetic brush copolymer (PHEA-g-BIB-pButMA-g-PEG-biotin) was synthesized from α-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)-D,L-aspartamide (PHEA) by a three-step reaction involving atom transfer radical polymerisation (ATRP) to graft hydrophobic polybutylmethacrylate pendant groups and further conjugation with biotinylated polyethylene glycol via carbonate ester. Subsequently, lenvatinib-loaded nanoparticles were obtained and characterized demonstrating colloidal size, negative zeta potential, biotin exposure on the surface and the ability to release lenvatinib in a sustained manner. Lenvatinib-loaded nanoparticles were tested in vitro on HCC cells to evaluate their anticancer efficacy compared to free drug. Furthermore, the enhanced in vivo efficacy of lenvatinib-loaded nanoparticles on nude mice HCC xenograft models was demonstrated by evaluating tumor burdens, apoptotic markers and histological scores after administration of lenvatinib-nanoparticles via intraperitoneal or oral route. Finally, in vivo biodistribution studies were performed, demonstrating the ability of the prepared drug delivery systems to significantly accumulate in the solid tumor by active targeting, due to the presence of biotin on the nanoparticle surface.

Roles of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases in triterpene biosynthesis and their potential impact on growth and development.

Pentacyclic triterpenoids, recognized for their natural bioactivity, display complex spatiotemporal accumulation patterns within the ecological model plant Nicotiana attenuata. Despite their ecological importance, the underlying biosynthetic enzymes and functional attributes of triterpenoid synthesis in N. attenuata remain unexplored. Here, we show that three cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (NaCYP716A419, NaCYP716C87, and NaCYP716E107) from N. attenuata oxidize the pentacyclic triterpene skeleton, as evidenced by heterologous expression in Nicotiana benthamiana. NaCYP716A419 catalyzed a consecutive three-step oxidation reaction at the C28 position of β-amyrin/lupeol/lupanediol, yielding the corresponding alcohol, aldehyde, and carboxylic acid. NaCYP716C87 hydroxylated the C2α position of β-amyrin/lupeol/lupanediol/erythrodiol/oleanolic acid/betulinic acid, while NaCYP716E107 hydroxylated the C6β position of β-amyrin/oleanolic acid. The genes encoding these three CYP716 enzymes are highly expressed in flowers and respond to induction by ABA, MeJA, SA, GA3, and abiotic stress treatments. Using VIGS technology, we revealed that silencing of NaCYP716A419 affects the growth and reproduction of N. attenuata, suggesting the ecological significance of these specialized metabolite biosynthetic steps.

Synthesis, biosimulation and pharmacological evaluation of benzimidazole derivatives with antihypertensive multitarget effect

In this study, we synthesized a series of seven benzimidazole derivatives incorporating the structural acidic framework of angiotensin II (Ang II) type 1 receptor (AT1R) antagonists (ARA-II) employing a three-step reaction sequence. The chemical structures were confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR and mass spectral data. Through biosimulation, compounds 1–7 were identified as computational safe hits, thus, best candidates underwent ex vivo testing against two distinct mechanisms implicated in hypertension: antagonism of the Ang II type 1 receptor and the blockade of calcium channel. Molecular docking studies helped to understand at the molecular level the dual vasorelaxant effects with the recognition sites of the AT1R and the L-type calcium channel. In an in vivo spontaneously hypertensive rat model (SHR), intraperitoneally administration of compound 1 at 20 mg/kg resulted in a 25 % reduction in systolic blood pressure, demonstrating both ex vivo vasorelaxant action and in vivo antihypertensive multitarget efficacy. ©2024 Elsevier.

Silica gel-supported Pd nanocatalyst: Efficient Mizoroki-Heck reactions and sustainable Ozagrel synthesis

We developed a cost-effective silica gel-supported palladium nanocatalyst in a three-step reactions process. Initially, silica gel (60–120 mesh) underwent amino group functionalization using 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, leading to the formation of a Schiff base through a reaction with the 1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxaldehyde ligand. Subsequently, palladium nanocatalyst was introduced to the silica matrix ligand in the presence of palladium salt and hydrazine hydrate, resulting in the formation of the silica gel-supported Schiff-base palladium nanocatalyst (Si@SBPdNPs 3). Successful functionalization of the silica matrix was confirmed using various spectroscopic techniques. FT-IR spectra demonstrated the incorporation of organic moieties onto the silica surface, while SEM images revealed the modified spherical shape of the silica gel. TEM and XRD analyses confirmed the presence of palladium on the silica matrix. ICP and EDX measurements validated the anchoring of 0.55 mmol/g of palladium to the catalyst. Additionally, XPS analysis showed the complexation of Pd(0) with the organic ligand on the silica matrix, confirming the successful integration of palladium into the system. This nanocatalyst demonstrated outstanding performance in Mizoroki-Heck reactions, yielding high product outputs in the cross-coupling of various aryl halides and olefins under mild conditions. Additionally, the nanocatalyst was effectively utilized in synthesizing Ozagrel, a thromboxane A2 synthesis inhibitor used for treating noncardioembolic stroke patients. Remarkably, the catalyst demonstrated excellent reusability, maintaining high productivity across five consecutive cycles, underscoring its economic and sustainable potential for industrial applications.

Kinetic modelling of non-equilibrium plasma enhanced catalytic ammonia decomposition

It is important for the usage of ammonia as energy carrier to achieve ammonia decomposition at low temperature. In the present study, a reactor model of plasma catalytic ammonia decomposition over Fe catalyst at atmospheric pressure is developed in the aspect of plasma and chemical synergies kinetics. The plasma catalytic model accounted for multiple physical mechanisms in electronic and vibrational plasma kinetics and detailed ammonia decomposition mechanisms on the catalyst surface. In addition, a novel view that identify the surface chemisorption enhancement by plasma attributed to charge transfer via EMSI (electronic metal-support interaction) effect is highlighted. The result shows that the synergetic effect of plasma and thermal-catalyst is much greater than that of plasma or catalyst alone on ammonia decomposition, especially at low temperature. It is revealed that the surface desorption of nitrogen is still the rate-limiting step. Moreover, the numerical results also indicate that Langmuir-Hinshelwood reaction via 2 N(s)=>N2 is more likely to dominate the surface desorption of nitrogen in the presence of plasma rather than Eley-Rideal reaction via N + N(s)=>N2. At low electric field, there are infrequent free radicals (NH2, NH and N) and few vibrational ammonia (NH3(v)) generated by the plasma, thus considering that the adsorbed ammonia only undergoes a three-step dehydrogenation reaction. As a consequence, the rate of surface nitrogen desorption with plasma is greater than that with catalyst alone since plasma promotes the chemisorption process of ammonia. This work provides new fundamental insights into the synergistic effect of plasma and catalyst, as well as the direction for the ammonia decomposition catalyst design in plasma.

Stable ubiquitin conjugation for biological interrogation of ubiquitinated tau repeat domain

Protein semisynthesis approaches are key for gaining insights into the effects of post-translational modifications (PTMs) on the structure and function of modified proteins. Among PTMs, ubiquitination involves the conjugation of a small protein modifier to a substrate amino acid residue and is unique in controlling a variety of cellular processes. Interest has grown in understanding the role of ubiquitination in neurodegenerative conditions, including tauopathies. The latter are characterized by the accumulation of the intrinsically disordered protein tau in the form of neurofibrillary tangles in the brains of patients. The presence of ubiquitinated tau in the pathological aggregates suggests that ubiquitination might play a role in the formation of abnormal protein deposits. In this study, we developed a new strategy, based on dehydroalanine chemistry, to install wild type ubiquitin on a tau repeat domain construct with site-specificity. We optimized a three-step reaction which yielded a good amount of highly pure tau repeat domain ubiquitinated in position 353. The structural features of the conjugate were examined by circular dichroism and NMR spectroscopy. The ubiquitinated tau was challenged in a number of assays: fibrils formation under aggregating conditions in vitro, chemical stability upon exposure to a variety of biological media including cell extracts, and internalization into astrocytes. The results demonstrated the wide applicability of the new semisynthetic strategy for the investigation of ubiquitinated substrates in vitro or in cell, and in particular for studying if ubiquitination has a role in the molecular mechanisms that underlie the aberrant transition of tau into pathological aggregates.

Facile access to benzofuran-based bis-stilbene for organic laser dyes

A concise and efficient synthetic protocol for the synthesis of furan-based bis-stilbene derivatives (BPBFCz1) was described, which is a very promising organic laser dye. Starting with 4,4’-diethynylbiphenyl, BPBFCz1 was prepared with a total yield of 40% through a three-step classical reaction of Sonogashira Coupling, intramolecular cyclization of 2-alkynyl phenol, and Buchwald Hartwig cross-coupling. The crystal structure of BPBFCz1 was presented for the first time. The synthesis strategy was applied to the synthesis of other three materials with similar structure and the yields of 28.6–36.6% were obtained.

Structures and Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition Abilities of some Derivatives Bearing (Pyridin-2-yl)tetrazole Scaffold

Tetrazole derivatives are a prominent class of heterocycles that hold significant value in medicinal chemistry and drug design. Their importance stems from their bioisosteric resemblance to carboxylic acid and amide moieties and their favorable metabolic stability and other beneficial physicochemical properties. In light of this, novel derivatives bearing the (pyridine-2-yl)tetrazol scaffold were synthesized with the presence of acid, ester and amide moieties and evaluated for their inhibitory effects on the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Through a three-step synthesis reaction initiated with 2-pyridine carbonitrile, compound IV was successfully obtained with II and III as the intermediates. All substances II - III - IV demonstrated inhibitory activity against the enzyme acetylcholinesterase. Notably, substance IV exhibited the highest percentage of inhibition, achieving 23,7 % at a concentration of 75 µM. Based on molecular docking simulations, compounds containing stronger nucleophilic substituents exhibit more robust AChE enzyme inhibitory activity due to a greater abundance of hydrogen bonds. This drug-likeness simulation and ADME prediction highlight the potential of tetrazole derivatives as a promising treatment for Alzheimer's disease.

Synthesis of 2,3-Dialkyl-5-hydroxybenzofurans via a One-pot, Three-step Reaction Sequence of 2-Monosubstituted 1,3-Diketones and 1,4-Benzoquinones.

An economical one-pot, three-step reaction sequence of readily available 2-monosubstituted 1,3-diketones and 1,4-benzoquinones has been explored for the facile access of 2,3-dialkyl-5-hydroxybenzofurans. By using cheap K2CO3 and conc. HCl as the reaction promoters, the reaction occurs smoothly via sequential Michael addition, aromatization, retro-Claisen, deacylation, hemiketalization, and dehydration processes under mild conditions in a practical manner. Additionally, an interesting phenomenon was observed during the derivatization studies, where the dihydroquinoline was converted into tetrahydroquinoline and quinoline products, respectively, via a disproportionation process.