α,β-Unsaturated ketones can be prepared by reaction of differently substituted β-keto acids and aldehydes. The reaction is carried out under organocatalysis (β-alanine, 0.5 equiv.) and generates the enones with high E selectivity (>95 %). This version of the Verley–Doebner modification of the Knoevenagelreaction is a practical alternative to the classic Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons (HWE) reaction without