Methyl vinyl ketones, enamine catalysis

A much more generally useful process was developed by Robinson to prepare cyclohexenones from ketones and methyl vinyl ketone or its derivatives. Again, because good compilations of the Robinson annulation exist,8 only a few examples are given here. The first step of this process, the Michael addition, is carried out by normal base catalysis, while the second step, the aldol condensation, is best accomplished by the use of a secondary amine to form the enamine of the acyclic ketone, which then cyclizes... 

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