Simple Microwave-Assisted Claisen and Dieckmann Condensation Experiments for the Undergraduate Organic Chemistry Laboratory

The Claisen condensation and its intramolecular variant the Dieckmann condensation are classic reactions studied in undergraduate organic chemistry courses because of their importance in organic synthesis and biochemical transformations. The growth in the use of microwave technology in both the synthetic and teaching laboratories warrants the modification of existing methodologies to incorporate this technology. This article presents simple microwave-assisted procedures for carrying out Claisen and Dieckmann condensation reactions that are suitable for organic chemistry teaching laboratories that utilize microwave technology. Although solvents can be used, the procedure is amenable to solvent-free conditions that promote green chemistry.