Highly efficient aza-Baylis-Hillman reaction of N-tosylated imines with MVK, acrolein, and phenyl acrylate or alpha-naphthyl acrylate: Lewis base effects and a convenient method to synthesize alpha,beta-unsaturated beta-amino carbonyl compounds.

This paper describes several highly efficient aza-Baylis-Hillman reactions of N-tosylated imines with MVK, acrolein, and phenyl acrylate or alpha-naphthyl acrylate in the presence of a Lewis base. In most cases, the reaction can be completed within 1 h using the appropriate Lewis base catalyst. An efficient method to synthesize beta-amino ketones, aldehydes and esters in high yields and short reaction time has been developed.