Abstract: The Knoevenagel cond ensa tion of aromatic aldehydes with ethyl cyanoacetate orcyanoacetamide has been carried out smoothly in the presence of potassium fluoride on alumi-na in high yield of products,and only the E isomers of the products were obtained.

Key words: Knoevenagel condensation, potassium fluoride/alumina, aromatic aldehyde, ethylcyanoacetate, cyanoacetamide