An iron(III) salt catalyzed retro-Claisencondensation between an alcohol and a 1,3-diketone was investigated. The mechanism involves the formation of a metal-induced six-membered cyclic transition state and cleavage of the C–C bond. Regioselective esterification and one-pot conversion of silyl ethers into esters with good yields was observed. Simple reaction conditions, high yields, and broad scope
iron(III) triflate, Fe(OTf)3, copper(II) triflate, Cu(OTf)2, and silver(I) triflate, AgOTf, show high catalytic activities. These reactions proceed through the carbon–carbonbondcleavage by a retro‐aldol reaction and were found to be highly regioselective even in the presence of other functional groups. This type of reaction can also be applied to the preparation of the keto esters during the synthesis