A novel one-pot three-component synthesis of benzofuran derivatives via Strecker reaction: Study of antioxidant activity.

A three-component Strecker-type reactions was applied for the synthesis of benzofuran derivatives through the reaction of 1-(6-hydroxy-2-isopropenyl-1-benzofuran-yl)-1-ethanone (euparin), primary amines and trimethylsilyl cyanide (TMSCN) in the presence of catalytic amount of ZnO-nanorods (ZnO-NR) and piperidine in acetonitrile at room temperature. The method has proved to be synthetically simple, and effective with high atom economy and yield. The catalyst also revealed significant reusability. Moreover, the antioxidant activity and free radical scavenging capacity of the newly synthesized such as 4a, 4c, 6a and 6c was screened using free radical scavenging 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays and compared with hydroxytoluene (BHT) and tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ). These compounds exhibit good DPPH radical scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays.