1‐Butyl‐3‐methyl Imidazolium Acetate Catalyzed Synthesis of N‐substituted‐5‐arylidene‐rhodanines

A direct method for the synthesis of N ‐substituted‐5‐arylidene‐rhodanines has been reported in high yield via [bmim]OAc‐catalyzed one‐pot four‐component domino Knoevenagel condensation of primary amine, carbon disulfide, ethyl chloroacetate, and aromatic aldehyde under neat condition. The catalytic role of [bmim]OAc is due to the acidic nature of C‐2 hydrogen of bmim cation and the basic nature of acetate anion in the noncovalent interactions. The synthetic methodology is simple and offers a wide scope for the synthesis of N ‐substituted‐5‐arylidene‐rhodanines.