title: Methylcarbonate and bicarbonate phosphonium salts as catalysts for the nitroaldol (Henry) reaction.
abstract: Phosphonium ionic liquids exchanged with bicarbonate and methylcarbonate anions (CILs) exhibit catalytic performances comparable to those of sterically hindered (non nucleophilic) organosuperbases such as DBU. At 25-50 °C, under solventless conditions, CILs efficiently catalyze the Henry addition of different aldehydes and ketones to nitroalkanes: not only they allow the selective formation of nitroaldols but they unlock a novel high-yielding access to dinitromethyl derivatives of ketones.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Molecolari e Nanosistemi dell' Università Ca' Foscari Venezia, calle Larga S. Marta, 2137-30123 Venezia, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fabris
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Noè
authors.forename: Alvise
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perosa
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Selva
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ballini