CONDENSATIONS EFFECTED BY THE ALKALI AMIDES. I. THE USE OF LITHIUM AMIDE IN THE SYNTHESIS OF CERTAIN β-KETO ESTERS AND SYMMETRICAL β-DIKETONES¹

Abstract

The carbethoxylation of methyl ketones with diethyl carbonate to form /S-keto esters has been effected previously by means of sodium ethoxide (1), sodium triphenylmethide (2), or sodium amide (3); and the acylation of ketones SUMMARY Various ketones have been carbethoxylated with diethyl carbonate in the presence of lithium amide to give ß-keto esters in fair to good yields.Certain ketones have been acylated with aliphatic and aromatic esters to produce symmetrical ß-diketones in good yields.As previously observed with sodium amide (7), the acylation of methyl ethyl ! The lithium amide used in this investigation was purchased from the A.