Mono-C-alkylation of β-dicarbonyl compounds using tetraethylammonium fluoride

The hydrogen-bonded solvates formed between tetraethylammonium fluoride and a number of β-dicarbonyl compounds react at about room temperature with alkyl iodides to provide high yields of the mono-C-alkylated β-dicarbonyl products with no apparent contamination due to the formation of O-alkyl, dialkyl, or polymerisation products.