Baylis–Hillman reactions were promoted by mild cooperative catalysts of tributylphosphine with phenols such as (±)-1, 1′-bi-2-naphthol (BINOL) in THF to give α-methylene-β- hydroxyalkanones in high yield. The reactions proceeded much faster in the presence of 1, 1′-bi-2-naphthol than in its absence. The 1H NMR studies suggested that 1, 1′-bi-2- naphthol functions as a Brønsted acid to activate the carbonyl group of an aldehyde and a ...
