L-Arginine as a cost-effective and recyclable catalyst for the synthesis of alpha,beta-unsaturated nitriles and ketones in an ionic liquid

L-Arginine catalysed the Knoevenagel condensations of aromatic, heteroaromatic and alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes with malononitrile and acetylacetone to afford alpha,beta-unsaturated nitriles and ketones. The reactions were carried out at room temperature in the ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethylsulfate. Moderate to excellent yields (45-100%) were achieved. The L-arginine/ionic liquid combination was successfully recycled for five runs without significant loss of activity.