A mixture of ethyl cyanoacetate (13) (3.18 g, 28 mmol), acetaldehyde (1.26 g, 28 rnmol) and Na 2 HPO 4 (80 mg, 0.56 mmol) in H 2 O (40 ml) (initial pH = 8) was stirred at room temperature for 24 h. The mixture was diluted with saturated sodium chloride (40 ml) and extracted with dichloromethane (3 × 60 ml). The extracts were combined, dried (Na 2 SO 4 ) and evaporated. The residue was subjected to flash-pad chromatography (ether/petrol 40–60 gradient elution) and ...