Phase transfer catalyzed reactions of chloroform with electrophilic alkenes. Effect of solvent on reaction course

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(99)00209-4

Reaction of chloroform with acrylic esters 1a-g, carried out in the presence of 50% aq NaOH, benzyltriethylammonium chloride (TEBACl) as a catalyst in heptane, gives exclusively adducts of trichloromethyl anion 2a-g with good yields. The same reaction carried out in the absence of solvent yields a mixture of products.