---
title: "Claisen condensation Template – Chemistry Diagram | MolDraw"
url: https://www.moldraw.com/templates/claisen-condensation/
description: "Claisen condensation template: Methyl acetate condenses with itself to methyl acetoacetate (a β-keto ester). Preview it, then open and edit it in MolDraw."
lang: en
publisher: Scidart Academy
generated: 2026-10-28
---
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# Claisen condensation template

![Claisen condensation template: Methyl acetate condenses with itself to methyl acetoacetate (a β-keto ester).](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/claisen-condensation.webp)

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Premium template. Preview and edit it free in MolDraw; downloading and exporting it is part of [MolDraw Pro](https://www.moldraw.com/pricing).

Methyl acetate condenses with itself to methyl acetoacetate (a β-keto ester).

## Mechanism step by step

Ester enolate attacks a second ester; methoxide is expelled

1. **Enolate formation** – Base removes an α-H
2. **Addition** – The enolate attacks the second ester
3. **Elimination** – The intermediate expels methoxide

## Key points

- The base matches the ester (NaOMe for methyl esters) to avoid exchange.
- Deprotonation of the β-keto ester drives the equilibrium.
- Intramolecular version: the Dieckmann cyclisation.
- Acid work-up gives the neutral β-keto ester.

Drawn with 75 atoms, 10 arrows, 9 shapes – every one editable in MolDraw.

## Sources

- [Clayden, Greeves & Warren, Organic Chemistry, 2nd ed., OUP 2012, ch. 26](https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780199270293) Textbook
- [Kürti & Czakó, Strategic Applications of Named Reactions in Organic Synthesis, Elsevier 2005](https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780124297852) Textbook

## How to use this template

1. Press **Edit in MolDraw**. The template opens on the canvas of the free MolDraw editor.
2. Change anything: move structures, edit atoms and labels, recolour highlights or delete what you do not need.
3. Add your own structures, arrows and text next to it, or combine several templates on one page.
4. Export the drawing as PNG, SVG or PDF for slides, worksheets, theses and papers.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is the Claisen condensation template free?

You can preview the Claisen condensation template here and open and edit it in MolDraw for free. Downloading or exporting it is part of MolDraw Pro, together with the other premium templates.

### Can I edit the Claisen condensation template?

Yes. It opens as an ordinary MolDraw drawing, so every structure, arrow, label and colour can be changed, and you can add your own content around it.

### Is the chemistry checked?

Every structure is checked with RDKit and every curly arrow passes MolDraw’s electron-flow audit. The sources used are listed on this page.

### Which name reactions are included?

Over seventy, covering the reactions most often asked in school-leaving exams (A-level, IB, CBSE, JEE and NEET) and first-year university courses, including condensations, rearrangements, oxidations, reductions and aromatic substitutions.

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