Improved heteroatom nucleophilic addition to electron-poor alkenes promoted by CeCl3.7H2O/NaI system supported on alumina in solvent-free conditions.

Conjugate addition of heteroatom nucleophiles to carbon-carbon double bonds conjugated with a strong electron-withdrawing group is one of the most important new bond-forming strategies in synthetic organic chemistry. Among the methods for these Michael additions, Lewis acids have shown the best promoter activity, and in particular, the use of reagents impregnated over inorganic supports is rapidly increased. With the increase of environmental consciousness in chemical research, the solvent-free Michael addition has attracted our attention.

The Michael addition of indoles to alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones catalyzed by CeCl3.7H2O-NaI combination supported on silica gel.

Alkylation of indoles by means of the Michael addition has been the subject of a number of investigation. It is well established that regioselectivity in the additions of indoles to electron-deficient alkenes is strongly controlled by the reaction medium. In a continuation of the work on developing greener and cleaner technologies, the cerium(III) chloride heptahydrate and sodium iodide combination supported on silica gel catalyzes the alkylation of various indoles with alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones giving 3-(3-oxoalkyl)indole derivatives in good yields.

Addition of organocerium reagents to morpholine amides: synthesis of important pheromone components of Achaea janata.

Readily preparable morpholine amides hitch in good yields with organocerium reagents to produce ketones. Even in the presence of substrates and reagents with high steric hindrance, the organometallic compounds prepared from dry cerium(III) chloride and organomagnesium or organolithium compounds at -78 degrees C add cleanly to morpholine amides. The low cost of starting materials makes this new scheme of synthesis very interesting for the preparation of biologically important pheromones.