Base- and metal-free decarboxylative aldol reaction of β-ketoacids with glyoxylate hydrates and glyoxal monohydrates in water

An environmentally benign decarboxylative aldol reaction of β-ketoacids with glyoxylate and glyoxal monohydrates in water is reported. The reaction proceeds smoothly without any base and metal catalysts, affording the corresponding β-hydroxy ketones in high yields. A preliminary mechanism study of this aldol transformation suggests a stepwise process involving the nucleophilic addition of β-ketoacids to glyoxylate hydrates and glyoxal monohydrates followed by a subsequent decarboxylation reaction.