In the green Knoevenagel reaction of benzaldehyde and malonic acid, the carbon–carbon formation reaction is catalyzed by a double Schiff base formed by benzaldehyde and ammonia. A mechanism for this green Knoevenagel has been proposed. A closed catalytic cycle explains why various ammonium salts, including ammonium bicarbonate, have been correctly reported as catalysts in Knoevenagel-like reactions. Various catalytically active intermediates from derivatives of benzaldehyde were isolated and characterized. Furthermore, these in situ formed double Schiff bases play another catalytic role in the consecutive decarboxylation reaction to various cinnamic acids.

在苯甲醛和丙二酸的绿色Knoevenagel反应中，碳-碳形成反应由苯甲醛和氨形成的双席夫碱催化。已经提出了这种绿色Knoevenagel的机制。封闭的催化循环解释了为什么已正确报道了各种铵盐（包括碳酸氢铵）作为类似Knoevenagel反应的催化剂。从苯甲醛衍生物中分离并表征了各种催化活性中间体。此外，这些原位形成的双席夫碱在连续的脱羧反应生成各种肉桂酸中起着另一催化作用。