Amberlyst-A21 as a New and Efficient Surface Catalyst for the Conjugate Addition of Nitroalkanes to Methyl Acrylate: An Improved Synthesis of Methyl 4-Nitro- and 4-Oxo-alkanoates
The Michaelreaction of various nitroalkanes 1 with electrophilic alkenes 2 can be performed in NaOH (0.025−0.1 M), without any organic solvent. In many cases the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTACl), as cationic surfactant, produces better results. Good yields of the products 3 are obtained even with hindered, and functionalized starting materials.