Tandem three-component reaction of aldehyde, alkyl acrylate, and amide using ethyl diphenylphosphine as organocatalyst

It is the first time that a chemoselective EtPPh2-catalyzed three-component reaction of aromatic aldehyde, alkyl acrylate, and phthalimide or methyl toluenesulfonamide has been achieved. A variety of highly functional adducts can be generated efficiently in one step within 1–72 h in 38–93% yields. The reaction mechanism is proposed to undergo Morita–Baylis–Hillman reactions of aryl-substituted aldehydes and alkyl acrylates followed by Michael additions of amides. Our studies indicated that, in combination of EtPPh2, alkyl acrylate also catalyzed this process.