A bifunctional recyclable Gemini surfactant catalyst for oxidative nitroso Diels–Alder reactions in water

Abstract

A novel bifunctional cationic Gemini iodide catalyst was designed for oxidative nitroso Diels–Alder reactions in aqueous media. This surfactant-type catalyst spontaneously self-assembles into micellar nanoreactors in water, facilitating hetero-Diels–Alder reactions of in situ generated nitroso species with moderate to excellent yields. This protocol operates under mild conditions with low catalyst loading and exhibits excellent functional group tolerance alongside a broad substrate scope. Furthermore, the system exhibits facile scalability and outstanding recyclability of the aqueous reaction medium, aligning with the principles of sustainable chemistry.