Electronegativity Impact on metal (Copper, Iron, Zinc) Lewis acid catalysts in the Biginelli Reaction: A Comparative Study

Abstract

The Biginelli reaction is a very practical multi-component reaction, and the products 3,4-Dihydropyrimidine-2(1H)-ones (DHPMs) play an important role in the pharmacy scope. Herein, CuCl2, FeCl3, and ZnCl2 were used to investigate the catalytic activity differences among these metal Lewis acid catalysts for the Biginelli reaction under controlled conditions. Based on reaction mechanism, we believe that highly electronegative metals are beneficial for activating imines and enol intermediates, thereby increasing reaction yields.