All,
converting 1-methyl-cyclohexanone into 1,1,-dimethyl-cyclohexanone. I know that the enolate formed with the addition of base to 1-methyl-cyclohexanone favors the kinetic enolate (I.E. snagging a labile hydrogen on the less substituted side of the ketone). So my question lies here: What is a good way to avoid heating the mixture so I don't get any competing elimination reactions, while still getting the thermodynamic enolate? Any help appreciated, as I have never tried this one. The LDA at -78C is easy to make the other substituted ketone, however I've never tried to purposefully make the other one. Thanks.
-Zack