Microwave-assisted organocatalytic cross-aldol condensation of aldehydes

Abstract

An environmentally benign organocatalytic cross-aldol condensation of aldehydes under microwave irradiation in the absence of solvent is described. Using pyrrolidine as a catalyst, an efficient and sustainable atom economic method was developed for the cross-aldol condensation of various aldehydes with excellent results. Among the products, jasmine aldehyde, α-hexyl cinnamaldehyde and cyclamen aldehyde, three compounds of great industrial demand, were synthesised.