why esters that have only one alpha hydrogen do not undergo Claisen condensation?

Question

souvik · Answer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claisen_condensation

anonymous · Answer

thanks. I had seen that page. I didn't understand why!

anonymous · Answer

in claisen condensation, the first step is an equillibrium step.    (step involving formation of an enolate) and the equilibrium will lie to the left (i.e. on ester side)  I AM SURE YOU MIGHT BE KNOWING WHY...

and all the other steps except the last one are equillibrium steps too..
see the attachment..  and you may verify this by any reliable source.

so, if the last step ( i.e. the abstraction of the second alpha proton) doess not happen the the equilibrium will not go to the right and products will not be formed