SummaryUsing selected theoretical methods the affinity of a large range of Lewis bases towards model cations has been quantified. The range of model cations includes the methyl cation as the smallest carbon-centered electrophile, the benzhydryl and trityl cations as models for electrophilic substrates encountered in Lewis base-catalyzed synthetic procedures, and the acetyl cation as a substrate model for acyl-transfer reactions. Affinities towards these cationic electrophiles are complemented by data for Lewis-base addition to Michael acceptors as prototypical neutral electrophiles.

The aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman (aza-MBH) reaction has been studied in a variety of solvents, a selection of imine substrates and with various combinations of PPh3 and para-nitrophenol as the catalyst system. The measured kinetic data indicates that the effects of solvent and protic co-catalyst are strongly interdependent. These results are most easily reconciled with a mechanistic model involving the reversible protonation of zwitterionic intermediates in the catalytic cycle, which is also supported by (31)P NMR spectroscopy and quantum chemical studies.

The aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman (azaMBH) reaction has been studied for electronically and sterically deactivated Michael acceptors. It is found that electronically deactivated systems can be converted with electron-rich phosphanes and pyridines as catalysts equally well. For sterically deactivated systems clearly better catalytic turnover can be achieved with pyridine catalysts. This is in accordance with the calculated affinities of the catalysts towards different Michael-acceptors.

A versatile method for the synthesis of functionalized 2,2':6',2''-terpyridines by assembly of the terminal pyridine rings is presented. The cyclization precursors-bis-β-ketoenamides-are prepared from 4-substituted 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acids and acetylacetone or its corresponding enamino ketone. Treatment with trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate induces a twofold intramolecular condensation providing an efficient access to 4,4''-di- and 4,4',4''-trifunctionalized 6,6''-dimethyl-2,2':6',2''-terpyridines. Using this method, hitherto unknown 4,4''-bis(dimethylamino)- and 4,4',4''-tris(dimethylamino)terpyridines have been prepared that show remarkably high calculated Lewis basicities.

Methyl cation affinity (MCA) values have been calculated for a variety of phosphanes at the MP2(FC)/6‐31+G(2d,p)//B98/6‐31G(d) level of theory. The analysis of MCA values for tri‐alkyl phosphanes reveals that substituent effects are additive for unbranched and cyclic alkyl substituents, and (with some modification) also for most of the branched alkyl substituents. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.