Exploring the reactivity of a malononitrile derivative with a nitroalkene

Abstract

Michael addition of malononitrile as nucleophiles to nitroalkenes as electrophiles has been scarcely explored in organic chemistry. These two groups are widely known for their importance in pharmaceuticals, as well as medical and bioactivity usages. Malononitriles have been used as an intermediate to the formation of cancer treatments; nitroalkenes have been a building block for therapeutic drugs treating reflux esophagitis. Synthesizing these two molecules with a carbon-carbon bond would expand organic chemistry knowledge as well as create possibilities for advances in the medicinal world. Using 4-methoxybenzylmalononitrile and 4-chloro-nitrostyrene as reactants, I was able to synthesize 2-[1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-nitroethyl]-2-(4- methoxybenzyl) malononitrile while testing multiple reaction catalysts in the process. Several catalysts with varying equivalents produced different amounts of the product.