Abstract: Preformed lithium enolates may be used as reactants in aldol condensation with other carbonyl compounds provided reaction conditions are chosen that intercept the initially formed aldol products as metal chelates 9. Although lithium may serve as the chelating metal cation in nonpolar solvents at low temperatures, it is experimentally more convenient to add a divalefit metal salt such as anhydrous MgBrz, or especially ZnClz. By adding an ...
