One-pot transition-metal-free synthesis of dibenzo[b,f]oxepins from 2-halobenzaldehydes.

A one-pot transition-metal-free, base-mediated synthesis of dibenzo[b,f]oxepins was developed. The reaction of 2-halobenzaldehydes with (2-hydroxyphenyl)acetonitriles proceeds via a sequential aldol condensation and intramolecular ether formation reaction in the presence of Cs(2)CO(3) and molecular sieves in toluene.