Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) Reaction Derived Nitroallylic Alcohols, Acetates and Amines as Synthons in Organocatalysis and Heterocycle Synthesis.

The Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) reaction is one of the most useful and efficient protocols for constructing new carbon-carbon bonds between an activated olefin and electrophiles in the presence of a tertiary amine/phosphine. Herein, we present the use of MBH alcohols, which are obtained from the reaction of nitrostyrenes with aldehydes, as well as acetates and amines derived thereof in several organocatalytic transformations. Densely functionalised MBH adducts can also be used to synthesise substituted heteroaromatic compounds, such as furan, pyrrole, pyrazole and imidazole derivatives.