Conjugate addition and the Michael reaction
A conjugated carbonyl has an electrophilic β carbon as well as a carbonyl carbon.
Key knowledge
A conjugated carbonyl has an electrophilic β carbon as well as a carbonyl carbon. In a Michael addition, a suitable carbon nucleophile bonds to the β carbon; the conjugated electrons redistribute to an enolate and protonation completes a conjugate-addition product. This differs from direct carbonyl addition.
Conditions and scope
- Nucleophile, acceptor substitution and conditions determine the competing pathways.
- The stable-enolate example is not a rule that every carbon nucleophile adds conjugately.
Sources · 1
References
Sources retain their recorded scope. A source link alone does not establish verification of every statement.
Evidence and review
Read β-carbon bonding/enolate mechanism and donor–acceptor limitations; did not assume universal conjugate selectivity.
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Entry details
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- uni-chem-michael-addition
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- core.1
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