Green condensation reactions catalyzed by l-proline

CHED 421

Jeremy Woods and George D. Bennett, gbennett@mail.millikin.edu. Department of Chemistry, Millikin University, 1184 W Main Street, Decatur, IL 62522
The amino acid L-proline has been used to catalyze the condensation reactions of a series of aromatic aldehydes with acetone and other aliphatic ketones at room temperature and pressure. No solvent is necessary when the ketone is a liquid, and the biodegradable catalyst tolerates phenolic hydrogens.