Multicomponent, solvent-free synthesis of β-aryl-β-mercapto ketones using zirconium chloride as a catalyst

Zirconium chloride efficiently catalyzes the one-pot, three-component reaction of an aryl aldehyde, cyclic or acyclic enolizable ketones, and thiols under solvent-free conditions at room temperature to afford the corresponding β-aryl-β-mercaptoketones via aldol-Michael addition reactions. This methodology affords a large number of β-aryl-β-mercapto ketone derivatives in high yields and in short reaction times.