Traditional Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction of aldehydes with methyl vinyl ketone co-catalyzed by triphenylphosphine and nitrophenol

Abstract

In the Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction of aldehydes with methyl vinyl ketone (MVK), we found that in the presence of a catalytic amount of phenol, the Lewis base triphenylphosphine can effectively promote the reaction to give the corresponding normal Morita–Baylis–Hillman adducts in good yields. The mechanism has been investigated by ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. The solvent and substituent effects were also examined.