Bifunctional catalysts have acid–base synergetic effects on the Knoevenagel condensation.
Basic oxygen abstracts protons from ethyl acetoacetate and diethyl malonate.
Amine groups acting as basic centres abstract proton from ethyl cyanoacetate.
Lewis acid centers play a significant role in the reaction with ethyl acetoacetate and diethyl malonate.
The nature of metal species influences the activity but not the selectivity.