Solvent-free reactions of aromatic aldehydes with three representative ketones, including acetophenone, acetone and cyclohexanone, have been examined under the catalysis of a low-cost inorganic base system consisting of NaOH and K(2)CO(3). It was found that the chemoselectivity of the reactions is in close relationship with the composition of the reactants and the double-component catalyst. Under the optimized experimental conditions, 1,2,3,4,5-pentasubstituted cyclohexanols, alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones and Claisen-Schmidt bicondensation products were obtained in high yields. Two Kostanecki...
