An efficacious method for the halogenation of β-dicarbonyl compounds under mildly acidic conditions

A variety of 1,3-diketones, β-ketoesters and malonates can be chlorinated in high yields using sodium hypochlorite in a 5:2 mixture of acetone/acetic acid at 0 °C for 1 h. Similarly, bromination of these dicarbonyl substrates can be accomplished under the same conditions using sodium hypobromite.