Synthesis of enaminones and enamino esters catalysed by ZrOCl2.8H2O

A simple, fast and efficient procedure has been developed for the synthesis of beta-enaminones and beta-enamino esters catalysed by zirconyl chloride octahydrate (ZrOCl2.8H(2)O). The reaction of beta-diketones and beta-ketoesters with primary amines was carried out efficiently under solvent-free conditions at room temperature and led to chemo- and regio-selective formations of enamine derivatives in high to excellent yields. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.