Vitamin C as a green and efficient catalyst in synthesis of quinoxaline derivatives at room temperature

A simple, highly efficient and green procedure for the condensation of o-phenylenediamines with 1, 2-dicarbonyl compounds in the presence of vitamin C, as an inexpensive organocatalyst, is described. Using this method, variety of quinoxaline derivatives with different electron releasing and electron withdrawing substituents, are produced in high to excellent yields at room temperature in ethanol. The remarkable features of this new protocol are high to excellent conversions, relatively short reaction times, and clean reaction profiles, simple and easy experimental and work-up procedures. Thus we have been able to report another ability of vitamin C in organic chemistry synthesis which has less disastrous effect in the atmosphere and human survival.