Vicinal difunctionalization

Vicinal difunctionalization refers to a chemical reaction involving transformations at two adjacent centers (most commonly carbons). This transformation can be accomplished in α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds via the conjugate addition of a nucleophile to the β-position followed by trapping of the resulting enolate with an electrophile at the α-position. When the nucleophile is an enolate and the electrophile a proton, the reaction is called Michael addition.[1]

  1. ^ Chapdelaine, M. J.; Hulce, M. (1990). "Tandem Vicinal Difunctionalization: β-Addition to α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl Substrates Followed by α-Functionalization". Organic Reactions. 38: 227-294. doi:10.1002/0471264180.or038.02.