ABSTRACT
An efficient and environmentally friendly protocol has been demonstrated for water-soluble (salicyladimine)2Cu complex-catalyzed Michael addition of indoles to nitroolefins in water at 30 °C. A variety of substituted indoles and β-nitrostyrenes could be worked well to provide the title products in 81–97% yields. Moreover, the catalyst can be reused directly at least for four times without significantly decreasing activity.
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
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