Rate Acceleration of the Baylis-Hillman Reaction within Microreactors

Based on microreactors, the representative Baylis-Hillman reaction of cyclopent-2-enone coupled with 4-nitrobenzaldehyde in the presence of imidazole could be accelerated by manipulating the temperature and electric field. Furthermore, the electric field was used in promoting Baylis-Hillman reaction for the first time with the rate acceleration approximately 5.2-fold higher than that carried out in conventional vessels as well as 4.0-fold under control of temperature. Meanwhile, the products of Baylis-Hillman reaction at every time point could be collected and then determined by capillary micellar electrokinetic chromatography.