A novel pyrrolidine imide catalyzed direct formation of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones from unmodified ketones and aldehydes.

A method for direct, stereoselective preparation of (E)-alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones from ketones and aldehydes, promoted by a novel pyrrolidine imide organocatalyst, has been developed in moderate to high yields. Unlike the Claisen-Schmidt condensation and Lewis acid catalyzed tandem aldol-dehydration processes, this method provides mild reaction conditions to access alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones from simple, unmodified ketones. [reaction: see text]