Improved catalysis of Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction. The strong synergic effect using both an imidazolic ionic liquid and a temperature

The effect of different catalytic conditions for the Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction has been evaluated both experimentally and by chemometry. The use of either ultrasound at 0 °C, ultrasound with an imidazolic ionic liquid at 0 °C or the ionic liquid catalyst at 0 and 50 °C was systematically tested. A strong synergic effect, which significantly increases the reaction rates and yields, was observed when the reactions were performed using an imidazolic ionic liquid catalyst at both 0 and 50 °C.