Heteropoly acid-catalyzed highly efficient alkylation of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with benzylic and propargylic alcohols

Various 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds reacted readily with benzylic and propargylic alcohols in the presence of 10 mol % of phosphomolybdic acid supported on silica gel (PMA/SiO2) under mild reaction conditions to produce 2-benzylic- and 2-propargylic-1,3-dicarbonyl compounds in excellent yields and with high selectivity.