An efficient Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction for the synthesis of multifunctional 2-hydroxy-3-nitrobut-3-enoate derivatives

An efficient thiourea promoted MBH reaction of various conjugated nitroalkenes with ethyl glyoxylate was developed. The desired multifunctional products, 2-hydroxy-3-nitro-4-aryl/alkylbut-3-enoate derivatives were obtained in good to high chemical yields (56–92%) with DMAP (20 mol %) under solvent-free conditions or imidazole (100 mol %) in the presence of water.