Aldol condensations of aldehydes and ketones catalyzed by rare earth(III) perfluorooctane sulfonates in fluorous solvents

Rare earth(III) perfluorooctane sulfonates (RE(OPf)3), RE = Sc, Y, La-Lu) catalyze the efficient aldol condensation of different ketones with various aromatic aldehydes in fluorous solvents without the occurrence of any self-condensations.