MICHAEL ADDITION REACTION IN PRESENCE OF POTASSIUM AND RUBIDIUM FLUORIDES AS CATALYSTS

Donors of the Michael reaction such as ethyl nitroacetate, nitroketones with a CH2NO2 group and gem-dinitroalkanes react with potassium fluoride to form double salts composed of KHF2 and the nitro compound. The structure of these salts and the presence of KHF2 in the molecule was proved by UV and IR spectra. Upon reaction with acceptors, the salts decompose to yield normal Michael reaction products with an exception of the double salts of the nitroketones which give condensation products of acceptors with nitromethane, the latter being formed as the result of the solvolysis of nitroketones. Rubidium and caesium fluorides form similar double salts. They are not formed by lithium and sodium fluorides,. © 1969.