Synthesis of (C8H11N)2•Zn(OAc)2, (C8H11N)2•Cu(OAc)2, and (C8H11N)2•CuCl2 complexes and application to the Henry reaction

(C8H11N)(2)center dot Zn(OAc)(2) (1a), (C8H11N)(2)center dot Cu(OAc)(2) (1b), and (C8H11N)(2)center dot CuCl2 complexes are synthesized by a simple one-pot method. The crystal structures of 1a, 1b, and 1c are determined by X-ray crystallography. The complexes are also characterized by NMR, IR, MS, and elemental analysis and used as the catalysts applied to the Henry reaction; moderate to high yields are obtained at room temperature.