COBALT(II) CHLORIDE CATALYSED CONDENSATION OF ACETOACETATE WITH ENOLISABLE ALDEHYDES

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)74299-7

Enolisable aldehydes and methyl acetoacetate react in the presence of cobalt(II) chloride (catalytic) to give the corresponding α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compound in excellent yields.Non enolisable aldehydes do not react under these conditions.A catalytic cycle for these reactions has been proposed by involving the intermediacy of a cobalt(III) enol complex of aldehydes.