Effect of Metal Ions in Organic Synthesis. part XVI. Knoevenagel Condensations of Aldehydes and Tosylhydrazones with 2,4-Pentanedione by Copper (II) Chloride-Catalyzed Reaction

Based on some of our previous findings on the activity of some metal ions in certain organic reactivities,¹ we have now studied the Knoevenagel condensations of aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes or their tosylhydrazone derivatives with 2,4-pentanedione. In the presence of catalytic amounts of anhydrous copper (II) chloride, these compounds react in tetrahydrofuran at room temperature, affording the corresponding alkylidene or arylidene compounds in 48–98% yields.