Abstract Acetylation of lower 1, 3-cycloalkenediones with ketene takes place exclusively at oxygen in contrast to acyclic β-diketones. Thus, 1, 3-cyclopentanedione (I), 1, 3- cyclohexanedione (II) and 5, 5-dimethyl-1, 3-cyclohexanedione (III) afforded the corresponding 3-acetoxy-2-cycloalken-1-ones VI-VIII in quantitative yields. 1, 3- Cycloheptanedione (IV) and 1, 3-cyclooctanedione (V) differed considerably from the ...
