ω-Hydroxy ketones and diketones, which are important starting materials for the synthesis of cycloalkanones and heterocyclic compounds, were prepared by the one-step reaction of methyl ketones with α,ω-diols under the influence of an iridium complex and a base. The selectivity of ω-hydroxy ketones and diketones could be controlled by varying the starting ratio of methyl ketones to α,ω-diols. For example, reaction using acetophenone (5 equiv) with respect to 1,6-hexanediol (1 equiv) in the presence of [IrCl(cod)]2, PPh3, and KOH without solvent gave 1,10-diphenyl-1,10-decanedione in almost quantitative yield, while reaction using acetophenone (1 equiv) to 1,6-hexanediol (4 equiv) led to 8-hydroxy-1-phenyl-1-octanone in 92% yield. This methodology was successfully extended to the reaction of arylacetonitriles with α,ω-diols leading to diaryldinitriles.
Herein, we report a direct method for the synthesis of α-imidoketones and α-azolylketones via hypoiodite-catalyzed oxidative α-C−N coupling of ketones with the corresponding imides and azoles, respectively. The use of inorganic base additives such as cesium carbonate in the presence of 18-crown-6 as a phase transfer catalyst was crucial to induce high reactivity. Control experiments revealed that the
practical nickel-catalyzed deaminative alkylation of Katritzky salts with cyclopropyl alcohols via merging C–N and C–C bond activation. This protocol enables the formation of an alkyl–alkyl bond along with the generation of a versatile ketone functional group in a single operation, thus providing a convenient approach for accessing β-alkyl ketones. This reaction is distinguished by its high functional