Palladium-catalyzed conversion of phenols into tetrahydroacridines

Phenols are readily available through the degradation of lignin, a naturally abundant and renewable resource. The acridine skeleton, commonly found in drug molecules, holds significant medicinal and synthetic value. Herein, we present a synthesis of tetrahydroacridines through the use of palladium as a catalyst, employing 2-aminoarylketones and phenols as key starting materials. A drug and medicinal skeleton, tetrahydroacridines (including tacrine), were synthesized from phenolic lignin monomers and 2-aminoarylketones via palladium catalysis.