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22.8: The Michael Reaction

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    Basic reaction of 1,4 addition

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    In 1,4 addition the Nucleophile is added to the carbon β to the carbonyl while the hydrogen is added to the carbon α to the carbonyl.

    Mechanism for 1,4 addition

    1) Nucleophilic attack on the carbon β to the carbonyl

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    2) Proton Transfer

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    Here we can see why this addition is called 1,4. The nucleophile bonds to the carbon in the one position and the hydrogen adds to the oxygen in the four position.

    3) Tautomerization

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    Enolates undergo 1,4 addition to α, β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds is a process called a Michael addition. The reaction is named after American chemist Arthur Michael (1853-1942).

    Examples of Michael Additions

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    22.8: The Michael Reaction is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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