Ionic Liquid as Catalyst and Reaction Medium. The Dramatic Influence of a Task-Specific Ionic Liquid, [bmIm]OH, in Michael Addition of Active Methylene Compounds to Conjugated Ketones, Carboxylic Esters, and Nitriles

A task-specific ionic liquid, [bmIm]OH, has been introduced as a catalyst and as a reaction medium in Michael addition. Very interestingly, although the addition to α,β-unsaturated ketones proceeds in the usual way, giving the monoaddition products, this ionic liquid always drives the reaction of open-chain 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with α,β-unsaturated esters and nitriles toward bis-addition to produce exclusively bis-adducts in one stroke.