Ethyl L-lactate can be tuned with a cosolvent to create polarity conditions ideal for synthesizing aryl aldimines that crystallize directly out of solution within minutes under ambient conditions in excellent yields and requiring no further purification.

Aldehyde derivatives Q 0340Ethyl Lactate as a Tunable Solvent for the Synthesis of Aryl Aldimines. -By mixing ethyl L-lactate with varying amounts of water polarity, conditions are created which are ideal for synthesizing aldimines. The products crystallize directly out of the solution in excellent yields and no further purification is needed. -(BENNETT*, J. S.; CHARLES, K. L.; MINER, M. R.; HEUBERGER, C. F.; SPINA, E. J.; BARTELS, M. F.; FOREMAN, T.; Green Chem. 11 (2009) 2, 166-168; Dep. Chem. Biochem., State Univ. N. Y., Oneonta, NY, USA; Eng.) -M. Bohle 28-059