A rapid and efficient regioselective α-chlorination of a new series of β-dicarbonyl compounds using a commercial solution of sodium hypochlorite in the presence of K 2 CO 3 in THF at 0 °C, is reported. With prolonged reaction times, α-chloro β-keto esters, bearing an acyl moiety, undergo a tandem chlorination-deacylation reaction, affording the corresponding α-chlorinated esters.