The Michael Addition in Micellar Phase

Butenone, 1, and 3-penten-2-one, 2, underwent conjugated addition (Michael reaction) when treated with a beta-dicarbonyl compound (2,4-pentanedione, ethyl 3-oxobutanoate, ethyl propanedioate) in aqueous solution, in the presence of a cationic surfactant. The yield of the reaction depended on a number of factors (temperature, concentration, nucleophile precursor, surfactant and structure of the alpha,beta-unsaturated substrate).