Abstract
Trihexyl(tetradecyl)phoshonium decanoate was shown to be an effective promoter for the Henry nitroaldol reaction of nitromethane with aromatic aldehydes. A mechanism is proposed involving Lewis acid activation of the carbonyl group proceeding through a trigonal-bipyramidal intermediate. Evidence in accord with the postulated pathway as opposed to a base or phase transfer-mediated route involving proton transfer from the nitroalkane is presented. Keywords: nitroaldol, henry reaction, phosphonium salt, organic catalysis
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