Facile and efficient one-pot synthesis of highly functionalized thieno[2,3-b]thiopyran-4-ones from beta-keto epsilon-xanthyl phosphonates.

The one-pot synthesis of various functionalized thieno[2,3- b]thiopyran-4-ones from readily available beta-keto epsilon-xanthyl phosphonates has been accomplished by combining a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination with a base-induced intramolecular domino cyclization/thio-Michael addition. The use of cyclic ketones in this transformation allowed a facile access to novel spiro-type thieno[2,3- b]thiopyran structures.