11/30/11 - The Knoevanagel Reaction

   This reaction describes an aldol-dehydration sequence that involves the union of an aldehyde with an active methylene compound under simultaneous catalysis by a weak base and a weak acid. In this case the catalysis is by NH4OAc.  The Z groups in the picture below can be anything that induces electron withdrawing such as a carbonyl or a nitro.