Patent ID: 7659423

Claim:
A process for the preparation of a reactive electron deficient olefin, steps of which comprise (a) providing as reactants an aldehyde compound having the structure R—CH═O, wherein R is hydrogen or vinyl, or a source of said aldehyde compound and a compound containing a methylene linkage having at least one electron withdrawing substituent attached thereto, wherein the electron withdrawing substituent is selected from the group consisting of nitrile, carboxylic acids, carboxylic esters, sulphonic acids, ketones and nitro, in a solvent comprising an ionic liquid; (b) reacting the mixture of reactants under appropriate conditions and for a time sufficient to yield a reactive electron deficient olefin; and (c) separating from the mixture the so formed reactive electron deficient olefin to yield the reactive electron deficient olefin.