title: Base-free Knoevenagel condensation catalyzed by copper metal surfaces.
abstract: For the first time Knoevenagel condensation has been catalyzed by elemental copper with unexpected activity and excellent isolated yields. Inexpensive, widely available copper powder was used to catalyze the condensation of cyanoacetate and benzaldehyde under mild conditions. To ensure general applicability, a wide variety of different substrates was successfully reacted.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland. wendelin.stark@chem.ethz.ch.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zeltner
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kränzlin
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Grass
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Stark