Catalytic MBH reaction of β-substituted nitroalkenes with azodicarboxylates

Abstract

An unprecedented N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalyzed Morita–Baylis–Hillman (MBH) reaction of β-substituted nitroalkenes and azodicarboxylates has been developed. Both β-aryl and β-alkyl nitroalkenes worked well for the reaction using 5 mol% of NHC catalyst, giving the desired α-hydrazino-α,β-unsaturated nitroalkenes in good to excellent yields.