A green chemical approach for the N-alkylation of aldoximes to form nitrones in organized aqueous media and their in situ cycloaddition with olefins

Aldoximes react with alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl and sulfonyl compounds in organized aqueous media (nanoreactor system) using dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DBSA) as surfactant to generate N-alkylated nitrones, which undergo intermolecular cycloaddition in the same pot with maleimides to give the desired cycloadduct in absence of any organic solvent and catalyst. Divinyl sulfone was successfully used for both N-alkylation and intramolecular cycloaddition, affording only one cycloadduct. This is a new example of green chemistry and provides a new aspect of reactions in water.