Knoevenagel reaction cinnamic acid synthesis

Use of the Knoevenagel reaction (67OR(l5)204), in which a benzaldehyde reacts with an activated methylene compound in the presence of an amine, goes some way to overcoming the inherent difficulties of the Perkin synthesis of coumarins (see later). In order to obtain the coumarin rather than the usual cinnamic acid, a 2-hydroxy substituent must be present... 

Malonic acid itself can react with aldehydes in the presence of piperidine by way of a Knoevenagel condensation. A decarboxylation occurs after the condensation, and this decarboxylation cannot be avoided. Figure 13.55 shows how the overall reaction can be employed for the synthesis of cinnamic or sorbic acid. This reaction sequence occurs under much milder conditions than the Perkin synthesis of cinnamic acids. (The Perkin synthesis consists of the condensation of aromatic aldehydes with acetic acid anhydride in the presence of sodium acetate.)... 

Introduction of these photocrosslinkable structures in macro-molecular chains can be performed by esterification of hydroxyla-ted polymers with cinnamoyl chloride. Cellulose Q).condensation products (4, ) and mainly poly(vinyl alcohol) have Been treated( by this method. Other chemical modifications have been studied as ester interchange of poly(vinyl acetate) 7) and Knoevenagel reaction on polyesters (8). Very few results on the synthesis of such photocrosslinkable polymers by polymerization have been reported. Therefore free radical polymerization of cinnamic acid vinyl derivatives did not lead to the expected polymers, but to insolubilization reactions. Howewer cationic procedure can be a good way in some cases since Kato et al. could polymerize by this way with high yields p-vinyl phenylcinnamate (9) and B-vinyloxyethyl cinnamate (10). 

The chemistry involved in this particular synthesis of 2 -bromostyrene contains a number of fundamental organic reactions and is rather interesting to study. The first stage (Experiment [Dl]) involves the condensation of benz-aldehyde with malonic acid to produce the intermediate, frans-cinnamic acid. This reaction is mechanistically similar to the well-known aldol reaction, and is often referred to as the Knoevenagel condensation ... 

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