Ethi 1 chloroacetatr undergoes the Darzens condensation with acetone or cyclohexanone regardless of basic agents used. In contrast, N, Y-diethvl-a-chloroacetamide, presumably because of the relatively lower acidity of its a-hydrogens, does not rc, ndily undergo the Darzens condensation. Instead, 7-keto amides are produced as the predominant product. These arise from displacement of the chlorine hv the enolates of acetone and ...
