1,8-Diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU)-promoted efficient and versatile aza-Michael addition

A convenient and versatile method was developed for aza-Michael addition using a substoichiometric amount of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU). Various nitrogen nucleophiles were efficiently introduced to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds employing 0.5 equiv of DBU. Furthermore, other heteroatomic nucleophiles could also be introduced successfully under the same reaction conditions.