The first example of the preparation of α-diazo-β-hydroxy esters by the aldol-type condensation of aldehydes with ethyl diazoacetate using Et 3 N as base in the presence of magnesium iodide etherate [MgI 2 .(Et 2 O) n ] has been achieved in good to excellent yields at room temperature in CH 2 Cl 2 in 15-30 min. 5.93 (d, J = 2.5 Hz, 1H), 5H).Ethyl 2-diazo-3-hydroxy-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propanoate (3b): 17 Yellowish oil; δ H 1.33 (t, J = 7.3 Hz, 3H), 3.00 (br s, 1H), 3.83 (s, 3H), 4.29 (q, J = 7.3 Hz, 2H), 5.88 (s, 1H), 6.93 (d, J = 7.0 Hz, 2H), 7.36 (d, J = 7.0 Hz, 2H). Ethyl 2-diazo-3-hydroxy-3-(o-tolyl)propanoate (3c): 16 Pale yellowish oil; δ H 1.29 (t, J = 7.1 Hz, 3H), 3.75 (br s, 1H), 3.84 (s, 3H), 4.25 (q, J = 7.1 Hz, 2H), 5.96 (d, J = 4.8 Hz, 1H), 6.91 (d, J = 8.2 Hz, 1H), 7.00 (m, 1H), 7.31 (m, 1H), 7.47 (d, J = 7.3 Hz, 1H). Ethyl 3-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-diazo-3-hydroxypropanoate (3d): 17 Pale yellowish oil; δ H 1.29 (t, J = 7.1 Hz, 3H), 3.69 (br s, 1H), 4.25 (q, J = 7.1 Hz, 2H), 5.87 (s, 1H), 7.34-7.38 (m, 4H).Ethyl 2-diazo-3-(4-f luorophenyl)-3-hydroxypropanoate (3e): 17 Yellowish oil; δ H 1.29 (t, J = 7.1 Hz, 3H), 3.52 (br s, 1H), 4.26 (q, J = 7.1 Hz, 2H), 5.89 (d, J = 1.25 Hz, 1H), 7.06-7.09 (m, 2H), 7.40-7.43 (m, 2H). Ethyl 2-diazo-3-hydroxy-3-(4-nitrophenyl)propanoate (3f): 17 Yellowish oil; δ H 1.28 (t, J = 7.1 Hz, 3H), 3.90 (br s, 1H), 4.26 (q, J = 7.1 Hz, 2H), 5.99 (s, 1H), 7.63 (d, J = 8.6 Hz, 2H), 8.21-8.24 (m, 2H). Ethyl 2-diazo-3-hydroxy-3-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)propanoate (3g): Pale yellowish solid, m.p. 52.3-53.1 °C (lit. 21 51-53 °C). δ H 1.29 (t, J = 7.2 Hz, 3H), 3.65 (br s, 1H), 4.27 (q, J = 7.2 Hz, 2H), 5.96 (s, 1H), 7.56 (d, J = 8.2 Hz, 2H), 7.65 (d, J = 8.2 Hz, 2H).Ethyl 2-diazo-3-hydroxy-3-(naphthalen-1-yl)propanoate (3h): 21 Pale yellowish oil; δ H 1.33 (t, J = 7.2 Hz, 3H), 3.72 (br s, 1H), 4.32 (q, J = 7.2 Hz, 2H), 6.64 (s, 1H), 7.50-7.56 (m, 3H), 7.83-7.95 (m, 4H).Ethyl 2-diazo-3-hydroxy-3-(thiophen-2-yl)propanoate (3i): 22 Yellowish oil; δ H 1.31 (t, J = 7.2 Hz, 3H), 3.39 (br s, 1H), 4.29 (q, J = 7.2 Hz, 2H), 6.12 (s, 1H), 7.02 (d, J = 3.9 Hz, 1H), 7.03-7.07 (m, 1H), 7.31 (d, J = 3.9 Hz).(E)-Ethyl 2-diazo-3-hydroxy-5-phenylpent-4-enoate (3j): 17 Yellowish oil. δ H 1.32 (t, J = 7.1 Hz, 3H), 2.87 (br s, 1H), 4.27 (q, J = 7.1 Hz, 2H), 5.46 (d, J = 5.3 Hz, 1H), 6.28 (dd, J = 5.6, 16.0 Hz, 1H), 6.82 (d, J = 15.6 Hz, 1H), 7.29-7.42 (m, 5H). Ethyl 3-cyclohexyl-2-diazo-3-hydroxypropanoate (3k): 17 Pale yellowish oil; δ H 0.92-1.31 (m, 8H), 1.45-1.80 (m, 5H), 2.0 (d, J = 12 Hz, 1H), 3.23 (br s, 1H), 4.19 (q, J = 7.02 Hz, 2H), 4.26 (d, J = 9.34 Hz, 1H). Ethyl 2-diazo-3-hydroxy-4,4-dimethylpentanoate (3l): 21 Pale yellowish oil. δ H 0.97 (s, 9H), 1.28 (t, J = 7.1 Hz, 3H), 2.94 (br s, 1H), 4.19-4.23 (m, 3H).