H, CO+ 2 CH3COCHzCOOCzHj acetoacetate and formalin, as reported by Rabe, lb appears to be in error. The condensation does not give both diethyl a, a'-diacetylglutarate (I) and 4, 6- di-carbethoxy-3-hydroxy-3-methylcyclohexanone (11). A careful translation of Rabe's article^'^^^ indicates that I is the sole product, that it is completely stable, and that it is converted to 11, its intramolecular aldol product, only on the introduction of amine bases. ...
