Infrared Irradiation: Effective Promoter in the Formation of N‐Benzylideneanilines in the Absence of Solvent

Abstract

Infrared irradiation promoted the formation of a series of Schiff bases in the condensation reaction between benzaldehydes and anilines, in the absence of solvent. Benzaldehydes and anilines, containing either electron‐withdrawing or electron‐releasing groups, were assessed to identify any substituent effect on the formation of the Schiff bases. This methodology is characterized by ease of set‐up and work‐up, and the reaction yields were comparable with those obtained in the methods reported previously. Moreover, this new procedure is environmentally benign because no solvent was employed in the transformations.

Keywords:

• Infrared irradiation
• Promoter
• N‐Benzylideneanilines
• Absence of solvent

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Fernando Labarrios and Luis Velasco for the mass spectrometric measurements. F.D. would like to acknowledge CONACyT (Grant 44038‐Q) and CGPI/IPN (Grant 2004) for financial support. M.A.V. and L.R. are grateful to CONACyT for a graduate scholarship (125226 and 162803). F.D. and, J.T. are fellows of the EDI/IPN and COFAA/IPN programs.