Henry Reaction

The Henry Reaction is a base-catalyzed C-C bond-forming reaction between nitroalkanes and aldehydes or ketones. It is similar to the Aldol Addition, and also referred to as the Nitro Aldol Reaction.

If acidic protons are available (i.e. when R = H), the products tend to eliminate water to give nitroalkenes. Therefore, only small amounts of base should be used if the isolation of the β-hydroxy nitro-compounds is desired.

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Mechanism of the Henry Reaction

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Recent Literature

A New Copper Acetate-Bis(oxazoline)-Catalyzed, Enantioselective Henry Reaction
D. A. Evans, D. Seidel, M. Rueping, H. W. Lam, J. T. Shaw, C. W. Downey, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2003, 125, 12692-12693.

Practical Asymmetric Henry Reaction Catalyzed by a Chiral Diamine-Cu(OAc)2 Complex
T. Arai, M. Watanabe, A. Yanagisawa, Org. Lett., 2007, 9, 3595-3597.

Enantioselective Nitroaldol Reaction of α-Ketoesters Catalyzed by Cinchona Alkaloids
H. Li, B. Wang. L. Deng, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2006, 128, 732-733.

Nitroaldol Reaction in Aqueous Media: An Important Improvement of the Henry Reaction
R. Ballini, G. Bosica, J. Org. Chem., 1997, 62, 425-427.

A Convenient Samarium-Promoted Synthesis of Aliphatic (E)-Nitroalkenes under Mild Conditions
J. M. Concellón, P. L. Bernad, H. Rodríguez-Solla, C. Concellón, J. Org. Chem., 2007, 72, 5451-5423.

Electrochemically Induced Aza-Henry Reaction: A New, Mild, and Clean Synthesis of α-Nitroamines
L. Rossi, G. Bianchi, M. Feroci, A. Inesi, Synlett, 2007, 2505-2508.

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Enantioselective Aza-Henry and Aza-Michael Reactions