Organozinc alkoxide-promoted aldol-Tishchenko reaction of aliphatic aldehydes: an expedient entry to prepare the α-methylene ketones

i-PrOZnEt is an excellent reagent to promote the aldol-Tishchenko reaction of the aliphatic aldehydes tethered with other labile functional groups. The 1,3-diol monoesters were formed as the major products, which could be converted to α-methylene ketones in two steps in good yields.