Transition-Metal-Free Intermolecular α-Arylation of Ketones via Enolonium Species

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.7b03064
• Publication Date: 2017-11-15T20:48:41Z
• Authors: Shimon Maksymenko; Keshaba N. Parida; Gulab K. Pathe; Atul A. More; Yuriy B. Lipisa; Alex M. Szpilman
• Keywords: 01 natural sciences; 0104 chemical sciences

Herein it is shown, for the first time, that enolonium species are powerful electrophiles capable of reacting with aromatic compounds in an intermolecular manner to afford α-arylated ketones. The reaction is compatible with a variety of functional groups, is of wide scope with respect to aromatic compounds and ketone, and even works for polymerization-prone substrates such as substituted pyrroles, thiophenes, and furans. Only 1.6 to 5 equiv of the commodity aromatic substrates is needed.