Highly active copper-network catalyst for the direct aldol reaction.

Hidetoshi Ohta, Yasuhiro Uozumi, Yoichi M A Yamada

Index: Chem. Asian J. 6(9) , 2545-9, (2011)

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Abstract

The development of a highly active solid-phase catechol-copper network catalyst for direct aldol reaction is described. The catalyst was prepared from an alkyl-chain-linked bis(catechol) and a copper(II) complex. The direct aldol reaction between carbonyl compounds (aldehydes and ketones) and methyl isocyanoacetate was carried out using 0.1-1 mol% [Cu] catalyst to give the corresponding oxazolines at yields of up to 99% and a trans/cis ratio of >99:1. The catalyst was reused with no loss of catalytic activity. A plausible reaction pathway is also described.Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.