Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction of benzaldehydes with methyl vinyl ketone at ambient temperature using cross-linked poly-4-vinylpyridine as a solid heterogeneous base catalyst in the presence of hydrogen peroxide

Department of Chemistry, Institute of Chemical Technology, N. M. Parekh Road, Matunga, Mumbai-400 019, India

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Manuscript received 25 June 2013, accepted 26 June 2013

Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) reaction of various aromatic aldehydes and methyl vinyl ketone (MVK) is effectively catalyzed by cross-linked poly-4-vinylpyridine (CPVP), a solid heterogeneous polymer-based base catalyst, in the presence of hydrogen peroxide in an aqueous tert-BuOH medium at ambient temperature. The reaction in DMF gives a mixture of MBH adduct and the adduct of the reaction of MBH adduct with MVK. The reaction in aqueous tert-butanol gives selectively the MBH adduct in high yield and the catalyst is recyclable. This is the first report of the use of this combination of a solid polymeric base (CPVP) with hydrogen peroxide as a catalyst for MBH reaction.