Stereoselective Crossed-Aldol Condensation of Some Active Methylene Compounds with AromaticAldehydes in Aqueous Medium. Synthesis of (2E)-1,3-Disubstituted Propenones

Aldol condensation of cyclopropylmethyl ketone, 4-methoxyacetophenoneand cyclohexanone with different aromatic aldehydeswere carried out in water in heterogeneous phases in the presence ofcetyltrimethylammonium bromide as a cationic surfactant at roomtemperature. All the reactions occur in a relatively short time with excellentyields of stereoselective propenones in water as an environmentalfriendly solvent. The structures of the resulting products weredetermined by spectral and elemental analysis.