Ketone Formation by Acetoacetic Ester Synthesis

Acetoacetic ester synthesis is a way to make ketones from alkyl halides and β-keto esters. It uses an alkoxide base to remove the acidic proton from the β-keto ester. That forms an enolate ion, which is doubly stabilized.

The enolate then reacts with an alkyl halide by an SN2 process. This step c...

In acetoacetic ester synthesis, β-keto esters containing acidic α protons are converted to substituted acetones in the presence of a base via an alkylated ester intermediate.

The reaction begins with an alkoxide base abstracting the α proton of the substrate to generate a nucleophilic enolate ion.

The carbanion then attacks t...