The role of imine-enamine tautomerism in effecting cross-aldol condensations

An indirect method to effect cross-aldol coupling of two nonequivalent enolizable aldehydes is reported that involves initial conversion of one aldehyde to an imine derivative possessing an N-3° alkyl substituent. In sharp contrast to the related couplings (e.g., the use of α-lithiated imines at low temperature), condensation between the imine and several representative aldehydes occurs readily at ambient temperature in the presence of a catalytic amount of cobalt(II) chloride.