4-Isopropyl-2-oxazolin-5-one anion as a new convenient formyl anion equivalent for conjugate addition and aldol reactions

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)79260-4

The anion of the title compound, simply generated in the presence of catalytic amount of triethylamine, acts as nucleophilic acylating equivalent of formaldehyde reacting with both common electrophilic olefins or aldehydes to give moderate to good yield of Michael or aldol adducts respectively, which are easily hydrolized by dilute acid at ambient to temperature to afford the corresponding aldehydes.