Synthesis 2022; 54(24): 5461-5470
DOI: 10.1055/a-1933-3709
paper

Efficient Catalyst-Free Henry Reaction between Nitroalkanes and Aldehydes or Trifluoromethyl Ketones Promoted by Tap Water

Zhi-Hong Du
a   School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, The Key Laboratory for Green Processing of Chemical Engineering of Xinjiang Bingtuan, Shihezi University, Xinjiang 832003, P. R. of China
,
Meng Yuan
b   Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Key Lab of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. of China
,
Bao-Xiu Tao
b   Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Key Lab of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. of China
,
Tie-Ying Ding
b   Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Key Lab of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. of China
,
Chao-Shan Da
b   Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Key Lab of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. of China
› Author Affiliations


Abstract

The first examples of highly effective Henry reactions between nitroalkanes and aldehydes or trifluoromethyl ketones that proceed under catalyst-free and additive-free conditions, in a recyclable tap water medium, and at room temperature are reported. This process tolerates a broad range of aldehydes and trifluoromethyl ketones to give a series of β-nitro alcohol products in excellent yields. Such products are widely used in the syntheses of pharmaceutical intermediates and natural products. This protocol can be successfully scaled up to a 50-mmol scale without a reduction in yield. Tap water from different locations in China exhibited pH values ranging from 7.5 to 8.1, but the varying pH had no effect on the yield and the processes were successfully reproduced. Finally, the tap water was effectively recovered and reused without any postprocessing, even when the reaction substrates were different.

Supporting Information



Publication History

Received: 10 July 2022

Accepted after revision: 30 August 2022

Accepted Manuscript online:
30 August 2022

Article published online:
28 September 2022

© 2022. Thieme. All rights reserved

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany