Contrary to previous reports, it was found that hydrolysis of silyl enol ethers is superior to the desired condensation in InCl3-catalyzed aldol reactions of silyl enol ethers with aldehydes in water. The reactions were found to proceed in certain amounts in the presence of a catalytic amount of a Lewis acid under neat (solvent-free) conditions, while substrate limitation was observed in these reactions. Use of InCl3 as a Lewis acid in aldol reactions in micellar systems is also reported. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.