One‐Step Nickel‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Alpha‐Arylidene and Gamma Hydroxy‐Substituted N‐Methyl‐2‐Pyrrolidones

Abstract

This study describes a method to synthesize compounds with an arylidene group at the alpha position of N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP) and an alcohol group at the gamma position in a single‐step reaction using NMP and an aldehyde. The highest yields were obtained with Ni(glyme)Cl2 as a nickel catalyst and tert‐butyl hydroperoxide as the oxidant, and various aryl aldehydes reacted under optimal conditions to yield the target compounds.