Tetra‐n‐butylammonium Hydroxide (TBAH)–Catalyzed Knoevenagel Condensation: A Facile Synthesis of α‐Cyanoacrylates, α‐Cyanoacrylonitriles, and α‐Cyanoacrylamides

Abstract

Tetra‐n‐butylammonium hydroxide (TBAH) has been utilized as a novel and efficient catalyst for the Knoevenagel condensation of aldehydes with acidic methylene compounds such as methyl‐ and ethylcyanoacetate, malononitrile, and cyanoacetamide to afford substituted olefins.

Keywords:

• Active methylene compounds
• aldehydes
• alkenes
• Knoevenagel condensation
• microwave irradiation
• tetra‐n‐butylammonium hydroxide

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the Alexander von Humboldt foundation for the research fellowship and financial support.