This invention belongs to the field of
drug synthesis and relates to a highly efficient
hydrogen-borrowing reaction strategy for the preparation of ferroquinone (FQ). This strategy uses commercially available
ferrocene as a starting material, constructs the key precursor
ferrocene diol through two-step conversion, and then proceeds through two
hydrogen-borrowing reactions, successfully inventing a highly efficient method for the preparation of FQ in four steps with an overall yield of 69%. Compared with previously reported routes, this method shortens the reaction steps, increases the reaction yield (the overall yield of the existing ferroquinone synthesis
route in the background art is 39%), is simpler to operate, and is
environmentally friendly (the only byproduct in the
hydrogen-borrowing reaction is water). It can be widely used, laying a
solid foundation for in-depth pharmacological and physiological activity research of FQ, and providing a novel and universal strategy for developing new scaffolds for candidate
drug molecules with
high activity and
high selectivity of FQ derivatives.