LDA Conjugate Addition to a Morita-Baylis-Hillman Ester: Experimental and DFT-based Theoretical Observations

The Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) reaction is well known for providing valuable building blocks in organic synthesis. In the last few years it has been demonstrated that not only the MBH adducts itself can be useful intermediates, but also, its derivatives. The corresponding esters of MBH adducts (acetates, in most cases) have been extensively described in the literature due to its particular reactivity towards the attack of different nucleophiles (Scheme 1).