The Baylis-Hillman reaction in supercritical carbon dioxide: enhanced reaction rates, unprecedented ether formation, and a novel phase-dependent 3-component coupling

The Baylis-Hillman reaction can be efficiently carried out in scCO(2) with enhanced reaction rates relative to comparable solution phase reactions; at low pressures, a novel dimerisation is observed which has led to the development of a novel one-pot three component coupling reaction to form highly functionalised ethers.