A study has been made of the synthesis of a-methylbenzoyltrifluoroacetone, MBTA, by the acylation of propiophenone with methyl trifluoroacetate in the presence of sodium methoxide. The reaction is complicated by the formation of cleavage products and the extent to which cleavage occurs depends on both the amount of base used and reaction time. Several other a-methyl and a-ethyl substituted, &diketones containing the CF: group have ...
