An efficient and simple Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction based on the N-methylpyrrolidine–Ba(OH)2 catalytic system

By using of precise catalytic amount of N-methylpyrrolidine (5 mol %) and Ba(OH)2 (1.5 mol %) in H2O/CH3OH 5/1 or CH3OH/CH2Cl2 3/1 solvent mixtures at T=0 °C a Morita–Baylis–Hillman derivatives could be obtained in good to excellent yield from 2-cyclopenten-1-one, 2-cyclohexen-1-one and formaldehyde and diverse aryl aldehydes after suitable reaction time.