Catalyzed Addition of Aldehydes to Activated Double Bonds—A New Synthetic Approach

In the presence of cyanide ions as catalyst, aromatic and heterocyclic aldehydes can be smoothly added to α,β-unsaturated ketones, esters, and nitriles in aprotic solvents to form γ-diketones, 4-oxo carboxylic esters, and 4-oxo nitriles. Thiazolium salts in the presence of bases are also suitable catalysts; they permit not only addition of aromatic and heterocyclic aldehydes but also the addition of aliphatic aldehydes.