Phosphotungstic Acid Catalyzed Direct Benzylation of β-Dicarbonyl Compounds

12-Phosphotungstic acid was used as an efficient, ecofriendly, and air- and moisture-stable catalyst to promote the direct substitution of the hydroxy group of benzylic and atlylic alcohols with various P-dicarbonyl compounds. This powerful protocol for carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions provides monoalkylated dicarbonyl compounds in high yields with great efficiency. ((C) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)