Table 5. Effect of Various Solvents on the Knoevenagel Condensation Reaction at Room Temperature^a.

entry	solvent	time	% conversionb	% selectivityb
1	toluene	40 min	99	100
2	DMF	15 min	99	100
3	MeOH	30 min	66	81
4	acetonitrile	15 min	81	100
5	DCM	15 min	99	100
6	diethyl ether	4 h	61	100

^aConditions: p-nitrobenzaldehyde (1 mmol), malononitrile (1 mmol), solvent (3 mL), catalyst (25 mg); catalyst: 10% KOH/HT.

^bObtained from ¹H NMR yield of the crude reaction mixture.