A Convenient Method for the Lewis Base-catalyzed Synthesis of α,β-Unsaturated Carboxylic Esters Using Trimethylsilylketene Ethyl Trimethylsilyl Acetal and Carbonyl Compounds

Abstract A highly useful method for the synthesis of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic esters from various carbonyl compounds that uses trimethylsilylbetene ethyl trimethylsilyl acetal in the presence of a Lewis base catalyst such as acetate salts was established. This procedure gives the corresponding esters in high yields with excellent E stereoselectivity under mild conditions.