Conjugate addition to diethyl azodicarboxylate under organic-perfluorinated biphasic homogeneous catalysis by nickel(II) species

The nickel(II) complex of the Schiff base of salicylaldehyde and 4-perfluorodecylaniline catalyzes the conjugate addition of beta-diketones to electron-deficient substrates. Electrophilic amination with azodicarboxylate affords quaternary centers. The catalyst is recovered in solution and reutilized. Isolation of reaction products is very simple and does not require chromatography. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.