Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane as an efficient organobase catalyst for the synthesis of β-phosphonomalonates

Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (THAM) is a highly efficient and recyclable organobase catalyst for the nucleophilic phosphonylation of benzylidene malononitrile under solvent-free conditions. This new catalytic methodology is applicable without a solvent, eco-friendly, economically viable, avoids conventional isolation procedures, and has a facile work-up procedure and wide scope. THAM is an inexpensive, commercially available, non-toxic, and biodegradable novel organocatalyst. Furthermore, it can be reused in up to five cycles without loss in catalytic activity, and no chromatographic separation is needed to obtain the desired products. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.