• The reaction with aldehydes in the presence of zinc and tri-n-butylphosphine gives ɑ?-unsaturated esters directly: Tetrahedron Lett., 29, 6119 (1988).
• Addition of the organozinc derivative to nitriles (Blaise reaction), gives ?-amino acrylates, which can be hydrolyzed to ?-keto esters. For conditions allowing the use of hindered nitriles, see: J. Org. Chem., 48, 3833 (1983):