Alkylation of ethyl bromomalonate by alkylcobaloximes

Allylcobaloximes react under very mild conditions with ethyl bromomalonate to yield allyl-substituted ethylmalonates in good yield. In the case of crotyl-, 3,3 dimethyl, allyl- and cinnamyl-cobaloximes, the substitution occurs with total rearrangement of the allyl groups. Similar rearrangements are observed during the reactions of propargyl- and allenylcobaloximes with BrCH(CO₂Et)₂ yielding allenyl- and propargyl-malonic esters respectively.