Ultrasound-irradiated Michael addition of amines to ferrocenylenones under solvent-free and catalyst-free conditions at room temperature

A facile Michael addition of ferrocenylenones with aliphatic amines under ultrasound irradiation in the absence of solvent and catalyst at room temperature can afford 1-ferrocenyl-3-amino carbonyl compounds rapidly in high yields, which is also efficient in the aza-Michael reaction of other alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds such as chalcone, carboxylic ester, etc. However, aromatic amines do not undergo the conjugate addition at all, and the reactions under existing methods do not proceed or take place in low yield after a long reaction time. Apart from experimental simplicity, generality and selectivity, the advantages of this methodology are the rapid, environmentally benign and less expensive processes, which will contribute to the progress of green chemistry. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.