Polyethylene glycol as a non-ionic liquid solvent for Michael addition reaction of amines to conjugated alkenes

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is found to be an inexpensive, non-toxic, environmentally friendly reaction medium for the conjugate addition of amines to conjugated alkenes to afford the corresponding adducts in excellent yields under mild reaction condition. The use of PEG avoids the use of acid or base catalysts and moreover PEG can be recovered and reused.