Synthesis of cinnamic acid derivatives in a water-insoluble ionic liquid

Abstract

A number of cinnamic acid derivatives have been synthesised from commercially available aromatic aldehydes and propanedioic acid in a water-insoluble ionic liquid (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, [bmim]PF 6) in high yields in the presence of small catalytic amounts of piperidine. The ionic liquid can be reused at least five times.