Henry and Knoevenagel type condensation reactions initiated by tetraethylammonium superoxide in aprotic medium

摘要

Tetraethylammonium superoxide, generated in situ by the phase transfer reaction of potassium superoxide and tetraethylammonium bromide, brings about an easy condensation of nitromethane and malononitrile with a variety of aroamtic aldehydes in dimethylformamide at room temperature. Cyclohexanone, an alicyclic ketone, also reacts in an analogous way.