Claisen condensation, aryl/alkyl ketone

The reaction takes place at high temperature (about 200 C) and in the presence of K2CO3 as the catalyst. Under these conditions, the P-ketoester arising from the condensation between DMC and the aryl/alkyl ketone is split in a reverse Claisen condensation, as outlined in the following scheme (Scheme 2). 

Claisen-Schmidt reaction. Aromatic aldehydes condense with aliphatic or mixed alkyl-aryl ketones in the presence of aqueous alkali to form ap-unsaturated ketones ... 

A retrosynthetic analysis of a,/J-unsaturated ketones leading to various methods of synthesis is outlined in Section 5.18.2, p. 798. These methods are equally applicable to aromatic aldehydes. Aromatic aldehydes condense with aliphatic or mixed alkyl aryl ketones in the presence of aqueous alkali to form a,[i-unsaturated ketones (the Claisen-Schmidt reaction). 

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