Don't know if this is old news, any way
9g 4-methy-2,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde, 4,5g Nitroethane and 1g cyclohexylamin was heated in a domestic microwawe owen set on defrost (125W) two times 5min seperated with 10min 'cool down' period. Then another 4,5g nitroethan and 1g cyclohexylamin was introduced and the heating cycle repeted.
To the red, still hot, solution was then added 25mL ethanol. The solution was cooled in a icebad, and white edit yellow glinsering xtals was filtered off.
Yeald 8,2g
TLC:(40%DCM in Pet.ether)
Rf for the nitropropene 0,59 Rf for the aldehyde 0,46