New synthesis of (Z,E)-2,7-bis(4-cyanobenzylidene)cycloheptan-1-one under stereospecific constraints induced by host–guest interactions

A selective, efficient, and fast access to (Z,E)-2,7-bis(4-cyanobenzylidene)cycloheptan-1-one (BCBCH), precursor of the synthetic antagonist of tissue -plasminogen activator (t-PA), is reported using a solid/solid aldolisation–crotonisation reaction on a supramolecular complex under microwave irradiation. The underlying mechanism is investigated from the crystal structure of the intermediate host–guest complex formed between permethylated (gamma)-cyclodextrin and (Z)-2-(4-cyanobenzylidene)cycloheptan-1-one.