Examination of the Perkin reaction under microwave irradiation was written by Veverkova, E.;Pacherova, E.;Toma, S.. And the article was included in Chemical Papers in 1999.Electric Literature of C11H12O4 This article mentions the following:
The microwave irradiation shortened the reaction time of the Perkin reaction by 60-fold over classical heating. Cesium salts (acetate, carbonate, fluoride) with a small amount of pyridine were found to be the best catalysts under all conditions tested. In the experiment, the researchers used many compounds, for example, 3-(2,4-Dimethoxyphenyl)acrylic acid (cas: 6972-61-8Electric Literature of C11H12O4).
3-(2,4-Dimethoxyphenyl)acrylic acid (cas: 6972-61-8) belongs to ethers. Relative to alcohols, ethers are generally less dense, are less soluble in water, and have lower boiling points. They are relatively unreactive. The unique properties of ethers (i.e., that they are strongly polar, with nonbonding electron pairs but no hydroxyl group) enhance the formation and use of many reagents. For example, Grignard reagents cannot form unless an ether is present to share its lone pair of electrons with the magnesium atom. Complexation of the magnesium atom stabilizes the Grignard reagent and helps to keep it in solution.Electric Literature of C11H12O4
Referemce:
Ether – Wikipedia,
Ether | (C2H5)2O – PubChem