An Efficient Benzyltriethylammonium Chloride Catalysed Preparation of Electrophilic Alkenes: A Practical Synthesis of Trimethoprim

The Knoevenagel condensation of carbonyl compounds with active methylene compounds was readily carried out with benzyltriethylammonium chloride as a catalytic agent, under solvent-free conditions to produce olefinic products in high yields: the scope of this protocol is utilised for the synthesis of the antibacterial agent trimethoprim.