TETRAHEDRON LETTERS, cilt.51, ss.4509-4511, 2010 (SCI-Expanded)
The catalytic potential of imidazolium salts in the benzoin condensation was investigated. Various aromatic aldehydes were tested in the benzoin condensation under the optimised protocol to afford alpha-hydroxyketones using N-heterocyclic carbenes derived from mono- and dicationic imidazolium salts. The products were obtained in good yields within short reaction times. Dicationic imidazolium salts with a long aliphatic chain between the imidazole rings were found to be more effective pre-catalysts for the benzoin condensation in comparison to the corresponding monocationic salts having the same aliphatic chain length. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.