A palladium-catalyzeddirect access to ketones from aldehydes via C−H cleavage of arenes is described. The procedure utilizes air as a clean and free terminal oxidant.
aldehydes leading to aryl ketones by the use of palladium(II) acetate, tert-butyl hydroperoxide, and chlorobenzene as the catalyst, oxidant, and solvent, respectively, is presented. Intra- and intermolecular kinetic isotope effects, radical trapping, and controlled experiments were carried out to support the proposed catalytic mechanism for the reaction. Syntheses of (2-hydroxyphenyl)(phenyl)methanones and