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Updated: Dec 30, 2025

A Microwave-Assisted Direct Heteroarylation of Ketones Using Transition Metal Catalysis
Published on: February 16, 2020
KOtBu-Catalyzed Michael Addition Reactions Under Mild and Solvent-Free Conditions
Subramanian Thiyagarajan1, Varadhan Krishnakumar1, Chidambaram Gunanathan1
1School of Chemical Sciences, National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), HBNI, Bhubaneswar, 752050, India.
Abstract:
Designed transition metal complexes predominantly catalyze Michael addition reactions. Inorganic and organic base-catalyzed Michael addition reactions have been reported. However, known base-catalyzed reactions suffer from the requirement of solvents, additives, high pressure and also side-reactions. Herein, we demonstrate a mild and environmentally friendly strategy of readily available KOt Bu-catalyzed Michael addition reactions. This simple inorganic base efficiently catalyzes the Michael addition of underexplored acrylonitriles, esters and amides with (oxa-, aza-, and thia-) heteroatom nucleophiles. This catalytic process proceeds under solvent-free conditions and at room temperature. Notably, this protocol offers an easy operational procedure, broad substrate scope with excellent selectivity, reaction scalability and excellent TON (>9900). Preliminary mechanistic studies revealed that the reaction follows an ionic mechanism. Formal synthesis of promazine is demonstrated using this catalytic protocol.
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