Baylis-Hillman reactions are described as the addition of an acrylate to an aldehyde catalyzed by an amine. This reaction is atom economical, but for our reaction of benzaldehyde and methyl vinyl ketone it produced low yields and the reaction rates were slow. To increase the reaction rates and yields, we conducted trials using the microwave. We adjusted the temperature and time in microwave experiments to determine if these two factors promoted an efficient synthesis of product. The products from the Baylis-Hillman were further manipulated to produce the starting material for an Aldol/Aza Michael domino process which could lead to an array of piperidine products. Piperidines are widely used in medicinal chemistry and found in natural products. The next step will be to react the Baylis-Hillman adduct with imines to make novel piperidine derivatives.
