Aldol Reaction and Robinson-Type Annelation Catalyzed by Lanthanoid Triisopropoxides

Lanthanoid triisopropoxides are active catalysts for aldol reactions. Aldehydes give the corresponding β-hydroxyaldehydes at low temperatures in good yields, whereas ketones are less reactive, but form condensation products at high temperatures. Exceptionally, γ- or δ-diketones easily undergo condensation to give five- and six-membered unsaturated ketones in high yields. The lanthanoid propoxides, catalyzing the Michael addition of ketones to α,β-unsaturated ketones, which give δ-diketones, are also good catalysts for the Robinson-type annelation. In these reactions, the catalytic activity of the lanthanum propoxide is higher than those of the heavy lanthanoid propoxides, and is almost comparable to that of sodium isopropoxide. Since aluminum triisopropoxide shows poor activity, the lanthanoid propoxides are considerably basic for trivalent metal alkoxides.