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

Abstract

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 aromatic aldehydes in dimethylformamide at room temperature. Cyclohexanone, an alicyclic ketone, also reacts in an analogous way.