The conversion of substituted 1,3-cyclohexanediones to the alkyl ethers of resorcinol using a Pd/C-ethylene system is reported. In these reactions, ethylene works as a hydrogen acceptor. The efficient synthesis of resveratrol was achieved using this protocol as a key step. In addition, the direct formation of substituted resorcinols was carried out by adding KCO into the reaction media.

The reaction of cyclohexanones with amines proceeded under an ethylene atmosphere in the presence of a catalytic amount of palladium/carbon to afford a variety of arylamines in good to high yields. The present reaction was carried out under completely non-aerobic conditions, and which is in contrast with the previously reported aerobic system. has wide applicability affording a variety of aromatic amines, and coproduct of the reaction is only gaseous ethane. Thus, this method is environmentally friendly. This protocol was applied intramolecularly to provide a novel method for the construction of quinoline and isoquinoline compounds.