A variety of β-keto esters (II) and aromatic aldehydes (III) reacts smoothly with urea in the presence of [Al(H2O)6](BF4)3. Acid-labile aldehydes as well as those containing sterically bulky substituents give high yields. The catalyst is obtained by reaction of Al(O-iPr)3 with aqueous HBF4 in isopropanol. -(LITVIC*, M.; VECENAJ, I.; LADISIC, Z. M.; LOVRIC, M.; VINKOVIC, V.; FILIPAN-LITVIC, M.; Tetrahedron 66 (
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