Stobbe condensations have been run successfully on p3 and 8-keto esters4 to give the expected products. With &keto esters only products resulting from cleavage of the keto ester were formed. 5 No mention could be found in the literature, however, of the use of a-keto esters or acids in this reaction. In light of the reported successful base-catalyzed mixed aldol condensations between aldehydes and ketones and pyruvic acidl6 phenylpyruvic acid,' ...
