SIMPLE, EFFICIENT, AND GREEN PROCEDURE FOR THE KNOEVENAGEL CONDENSATION CATALYZED BY ETHYLENEDIAMMONIUM DIACETATE UNDER SOLVENT-FREE CONDITIONS

A simple, efficient, and green procedure for Knoevenagel condensation of aromatic aldehydes with malononitrile and ethyl cyanoacetate catalyzed by ethylenediammonium diacetate under solvent-free conditions at room temperature is reported. This method gives remarkable advantages such as a simple procedure, mild conditions, fast (1-45 min) reactions, and excellent yields. Additionally, the catalyst can be reused for at least five runs without significant decrease of the yields.