ABSTRACT

Nucleophilic and unhindered catalysts are normally required for the Baylis Hillman reaction. We have discovered that DBU, which is normally regarded as a hindered and non-nucleophilic base, is in fact the optimum catalyst for this reaction providing adducts at much faster rates than using DABCO or 3HQD. The scope of the Baylis Hillman reaction is enhanced using this catalyst and implications of this finding are discussed.