Michael reaction basic principles

Arrhenius rate expression and concept of an activation energy provided an important basis for the analysis of the rate of chemical reactions. However, the main difficulty that remained was the absence of a general theory to predict the parameters in the rate expression. Whereas equilibria of reactions could be rigorously defined, the determination of reaction rates remained a branch of science, for which the basic principles still had to be formulated. This was achieved in the 1930s, when Henry Eyring, and independently, Michael Polanyi and M. G. Evans, formulated (and later refined) the transition-state theory. An important aim of this book is to present the current understanding of the Arrhenius equation and its parameters in the context of catalytic reactions. 

For Michael additions of CH acidic compounds (e.g. diethyl malonate with a,3-unsaturated ketones) the following recommendations are given "When possible, relatively weak basic catalysts such as piperidine... should be selected. If stronger bases are required, it is normally appropriate to use only 0.1 to 0.3 equivalent of the base." The analogy of these conditions to those specified by our rule A is obvious (concentration control). On the other hand, preformed carbanions (organometallies) are usually employed when the addend is more basic than the enolate produced by attack at the unsaturated carbonyl compound. Though the nature of the metal ion plays a crucial rule in many "carbanionic" addition reactions, a first understanding of the principles involved can be... 

---