Abstract
Aromatic aldehydes were reacted in a vessel with enolizable ketones, acetonitrile, and acetyl chloride at ambient temperature in the presence of KAl(SO4)2.12H2O to furnish the corresponding β-acetamido ketones in excellent yields. KHSO4 has also been used as another catalyst for this reaction at room temperature. Key features of this methodology are operational simplicity, mild reaction conditions, and excellent yields.