Esters 2-8. A mixture of 10 equiv of Dabco, 1 equiv of@-keto esters 2-8, and 15 equiv of o- xylene was heated to reflux for 4 hr with constant stirring. The cooled prodct mixtures were analyzed by glc and mass spectral analysis. The corresponding ketones (1 1-14) were identical by comparison of mass spectra and glc retention time with those of authentic samples. 8
