Microwave-assisted organic acid-base-co-catalyzed tandem Meinwald rearrangement and annulation of styrylepoxides.

A novel organic acid-base-co-catalyzed conversion of styrylepoxides into [1,1 '-biaryl]-3-carbaldehydes was realized under microwave irradiation. Styrylepoxides first underwent an acid-catalyzed Meinwald rearrangement followed by a tandem base-catalyzed Michael addition, aldol addition, and aromatization sequence to generate [1,1 '-biaryl]-3-carbaldehydes.