Primary catalyst, Knoevenagel reaction

Knoevenagel reaction. The condensation of an aldehyde with an active methylene compound (usually malonic acid or its derivatives) in the presence of a base is generally called the Knoevenagel reaction. Knoevenagel found that condensations between aldehydes and malonic acid are effectively catalysed by ammonia and by primary and secondary amines in alcoholic solution of the organic amines piperidine was regarded as the best catalyst. 

On the other hand the catalyst is of great importance primary, secondary or tertiary amines or their corresponding ammonium salts are usually used, but many other catalysts such as phase transfer catalysts, Lewis acids or potassium fluoride can also be applied. The most widely employed catalysts are pyridine, with or without added piperidine, and ammonium salts, such as ammonium or piperidinium acetate. Condensations that employ strong bases or preformed metal salts of the methylene component are not covered here since transformations under these conditions are not usually considered to be Knoevenagel reactions. 

The Knoevenagel reaction [3] is one of the most important C-C bond-forming reactions available to synthetic chemists. It is widely used in the synthesis of important intermediates or end-products for perfumes [4], pharmaceuticals [5], e. g. antihypertensive and calcium antagonists [6], and polymers [7]. The reaction is catalyzed by bases, acids, or catalysts containing acid-base sites [8], e. g. bases such as ammonia, primary and secondary amines and their salts [1], and Lewis acids such as CUCI2 [9], ZnCl2 [10], and Sml3 [11]. 

The Knoevenagel condensation is a base-catalyzed aldol-type reaction, and the exact mechanism depends on the substrates and the type of catalyst used. The first proposal for the mechanism was set forth by A.C.O. Hann and A. Lapworth Hann-Lapworth mechanism) In 1904." When tertiary amines are used as catalysts, the formation of a p-hydroxydlcarbonyl Intermediate is expected, which undergoes dehydration to afford the product. On the other hand, when secondary or primary amines are used as catalyst, the aldehyde and the amine condense to form an Imlnlum salt that then reacts with the enolate. Finally, a 1,2-ellmlnatlon gives rise to the desired a,p-unsaturated dicarbonyl or related compounds. The final product may undergo a Michael addition with the excess enolate to give a bis adduct. 

Primary amines anchored to silica have been utilized as catalysts for Knoevenagel condensation reactions. For example, silica gel functionalized with a propylamino moiety [SiO2-(CH2)3-NH2] was employed in the reaction of different methylene active compounds with aldehydes and ketones for the production of electron-poor olefins 73 (Scheme 3.21). ... 

The primary amino groups bound on sihca was previously reported to be an efficient catalyst for the Knoevenagel condensation reaction in mild conditions... 

Despite these mechanistic and theoretical studies, intermolecular amine-catalyzed aldolizations have only rarely been used on a preparative scale. A few note vorthy exceptions in vhich aldehydes are used as donors are sho vn in Scheme 4.6 [51-55]. These reactions are often performed neat or in the presence of small amounts of an organic solvent. The catalyst usually used is either a primary or secondary amine, a combination of an amine vith a carboxylic acid, or simply an amino acid. These catalyst systems have previously been used in the Knoevenagel condensation and it is apparent that synthetic amine-catalyzed aldolizations originate from Knoevenagel s chemistry [56]. 

The asymmetric domino three-component Knoevenagel/Diels-Alder addition reaction promoted by the primary amine catalyst 9-amino-9-deoxy-epi-quinine was also reported. Various pharmacological multisubstituted spiro[5,5]undecane-1,5,9-triones were obtained in moderate to good yields (up to 81%) with excellent diastereo-(>99 1 dr) and enantioselectivities (up to 97% ee) [19]. The enamine-mediated Diels-Alder reactions of a,P-unsaturated ketones were also extended to nitroalkenes [20] and 3-olefmic oxindoles [21]. 

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