We report a Ti(OiPr)(4)/pyridine mediated Knoevenagel reaction between aromatic ketones and cyanoacetamides to provide Knoevenagel olefin products in good to excellent yields. Almost in all cases studied, a single geometrical isomer was formed and isolated under the Ti(OiPr)(4)/pyridine condensation conditions. This methodology was also demonstrated to be highly effective between some other Knoevenagel active methylene compounds and aromatic ketones. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
We report a Ti(OiPr)(4)/pyridine mediated Knoevenagel reaction between aromatic ketones and cyanoacetamides to provide Knoevenagel olefin products in good to excellent yields. Almost in all cases studied, a single geometrical isomer was formed and isolated under the Ti(OiPr)(4)/pyridine condensation conditions. This methodology was also demonstrated to be highly effective between some other Knoevenagel active methylene compounds and aromatic ketones. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.