The α-arylation of derivatives of malonic acid with aryllead triacetates. New syntheses of ibuprofen and phenobarbital.

Derivatives of Meldrum's acid and the sodium salts of substituted malonic esters undergo rapid arylation in high yield when treated with aryllead triacetates. These reactions have been applied to the synthesis of ibuprofen, an analgesic, and in a closely related reaction 5-ethylbarbituric acid has been reacted with phenyllead triacetate to give phenobarbital.