Mohammad Reza Mohammadizadeh

In continuation of our ongoing programs for the synthesis of N-containing heterocycles3, herein, we try to report a clean and green method for the synthesis of new azocine derivatives 4 via addition reaction of 2-nitroethene-1,1-diamine derivatives 1 with acenaphthoquinone 2 in acetic acid at 50 oC followed by oxidative cleavages of the corresponding vicinal diols 3 using periodic acid (Scheme 1). Various azocine derivatives were synthesized and their structures were thoroughly characterized using their physical and spectral data. The protocol's key advantages include good yields, a simplified synthesis technique, lack of a need for any time-consuming work-up or column chromatography, no need for catalysis and mild reaction conditions.