Preparation of 3,3-diethoxypentan-2-one from the diethyl acetal of ethyl 2-oxobutyrate and (CH3)2CuLi

Abstract

Reaction of Me₂CuLi with the diethyl acetal of ethyl 2-oxobutyrate gives the synthetically useful methyl ketone(I) in nearly quantitative yield; similarly, acetophenone is formed in good yield from the reaction of ethyl benzoate and Me₂CuLi.