Aldehydes

The condensation of active methylene compounds 1 with acetaldehyde was efficiently promoted by a catalytic amount of lithium bromide in the presence of acetic anhydride to give ethylidene malonates 2 in 77-97% yield.

Under solvent free conditions between 40-50 °C, BF3.SiO2, a mild solid acid catalyst, is applied to regio-chemo and stereoselective Claisen-Schmidt condensation. The procedure is very simple and the products are isolated with an easy workup in good to excellent yields.