Alkoxide-catalyzed ring expansion of 1,3-cyclobutanediones with aldehydes

Abstract 1,3-Cyclobutanediones (dialkyl ketene dimer) reacted with various aromatic aldehydes to give six-membered cyclic β-keto esters by using a catalytic amount of potassium ethoxide. Effects of alkoxide catalysts and spiro cyclic groups at the 2,4-positions of 1,3-cyclobutanediones were investigated.