First Application of Air-Stableand Reusable Phosphine-Containing Calix[4]arenein Catalytic Aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman Reaction

For the first time, the aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction of N-sulfonated imines with methyl vinyl ketone was catalyzed by 5,11,17,23-tetrabutyl-25-(diphenylphosphinomethoxy)-26,27,28-trihydroxycalix[4]arene (LB1), an air-stable, easily isolated and reusable catalyst. Great acceleration of the reaction was observed and the aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts were produced in excellent yields within short reaction time.