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 β-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.