Michael Additions Catalyzed by a β-Diketiminate-Supported Aluminum Complex.

A β-diketiminate-supported aluminum bistriflate complex (DipLAl(OTf)2·Na[BArCl4]; DipL = CH(CMe)2(N-C6H3-iPr2)2; Tf = O2SCF3; ArCl = 3,5-Cl2-C6H3) has been identified as an efficient Lewis acid catalyst for Michael additions involving numerous electron-rich (hetero)aromatic substrates and several α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. In a vast majority of the attempted Michael reactions our catalytic system was significantly superior over the currently used methods for the same transformations in terms of reaction times and temperatures, catalyst loadings, isolated product yields, and/or selectivity.