Clean synthesis in water: uncatalysed preparation of ylidenemalononitriles

Abstract

A simple, efficient and environment-friendly procedure is developed for the condensation of malononitrile with aromatic, heteroaromatic and aliphatic aldehydes in water. The ylidenemalononitriles 3 are synthesised in high yields (84–98%) and selectivities (87–98%) in distilled water at 65 °C for 1 h, avoiding the addition of any catalyst.