
Michael reactions typically use basic or acidic catalysts, often in stoichiometric amounts. It has now been found by the group of Banik at Univ of Texas, Houston that bismuth nitrate will catalyse the addition of amines, carbonates, imidazoles, indoles and thiols to enones. The mechanism is not yet understood (C & E News, 2003, April 7th, pp 28-29).















