The Michael addition of ethyl acetoacetate 1 to chalcone 2 under Solid/Liquid Phase Transfer Catalysis (SL-PTC), solvent free, afforded Michael adduct 3 and an annulated compound 4 in good yield. The cyclic compound 4 was obtained in the majority via an annulation process of the Michael adduct 3. The proportion of 4 in the ratio of 3/4 was dependant on the structure of the quaternary ammonium cation. The results were interpreted on the basis of the organophilicity and accessibility of the catalysts as well as by invoking a 6-membered ring transition state for the formation of 4 due to the chelation level with Q+.
Phase Transfer Catalysis; annulation; Michael reaction
