A novel ytterbium/perfluoroalkylated-pyridine catalyst for Baylis–Hillman reaction in a fluorous biphasic system

Ytterbium perfluorooctanesulfonate [Yb(OPf)3] catalyses the highly efficient Baylis–Hillman reaction in the presence of a catalytic amount of a novel perfluoroalkylated-pyridine as a ligand in a fluorous biphasic system (FBS) composed of toluene and perfluorodecalin. The new process can be carried out successfully without the use of a stoichiometric amount of Lewis base. The fluorous phase containing the active catalytic species is easily separated and can be reused several times without significant loss of catalytic activity.

Graphical abstractYtterbium perfluorooctanesulfonate [Yb(OPf)3] catalyses the highly efficient Baylis–Hillman reaction in the presence of a catalytic amount of a novel perfluoroalkylated-pyridine as a ligand in a fluorous biphase system (FBS).Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide