A mild and efficient method for etherification of cyclic β-diketones with alcohols has been developed using a catalytic amount of cerium (IV) ammonium nitrate at room temperature to afford the corresponding β-keto enol ethers in good to excellent yields. The deprotections of enol ethers in water–acetonitrile (1: 1) using a catalytic amount (10 mol%) of cerium (IV) ammonium nitrate have also been achieved.
