| abstract |
The present teachings disclose contacting an amine salt catalyst with a dicarbonyl compound having alkylene groups between carbonyl groups; adding formaldehyde, paraformaldehyde, or formalin in an amount to form a mixture in moles of formaldehyde to moles of the dicarbonyl compound of about 2:1 to about 3: 1; and refluxing the mixture. The process forms a carbonyl-substituted olefin. The process may be carried out in the absence of a solvent. The process can form methylene malonates, methylene dimalonates, methylene ketomalonamides, methylene diketones, methylene ketoesters, and the like. |