Novel Enolate Generation

Exposing enones to a rhodium catalyst under 1 atmosphere of hydrogen gas generates a enolate which can react either intermolecularly or intramolecularly with carbonyl compounds.  The work of Michael Krische at University of Texas was reported at the ACS meeting in New Orleans in March 2003 (see C & E News, 2003, April 7th, p 28-29).  Because of its catalytic approach, the atom-efficient method promises to have industrial applicability.