The synthesis of the acetoacetic ester is a chemical reaction where ethyl acetoacetate is alkylated on carbon α of both carbonyl groups and then converted into a ketone, or more specifically, into an α-substituted acetone. This is very similar to the synthesis of the malonic ester. Mechanism
A strong base deprotonates the α-dicarbonyl carbon. This carbon atom is preferred to the methyl carbon because the enolate formed is a conjugated system, and consequently is stabilized by resonance. The carbon atom then undergoes a nucleophilic substitution. When heated with aqueous acid, the new alkylated ester is hydrolyzed to a β-ketoacid, which is decarboxylated to form a methyl ketone.
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