Environmentally Friendly and Efficient Process for the Preparation of β-Hydroxyl Ketones

An environmentally benign and efficient process for the preparation of β-hydroxyl ketones was developed by the practical cross-aldol reactions of 2-acetylpyridine, acetophenone, and cyclohexanone with 4-nitro-, 3-nitro-, and 2-nitrobenzaldehydes in water catalyzed by Na2CO3 in very high yields.