Electroreductive crossed pinacol coupling of aromatic ketones with aliphatic ketones and aldehydes
The intermolecular crossed pinacol coupling of aromatic ketones with aliphatic aldehydes and ketones was effected by electroreduction in the presence of chlorotrimethylsilane. The best result was obtained using a Pb cathode in Bu4NPF6/sub
Mg-promoted reduction of a mixture of aromatic ketones (or imines) and aliphatic carbonyl compounds in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) brought about unique mixed pinacol type of cross coupling to give unsymmetrical vicinal diols (or amino alcohols) or α-hydroxyketones in good to moderate yields. The reaction may be initiated by electron transfer from magnesium metal to an aromatic carbonyl compound possessing a less negative reduction potential. The difference of reduction potential between aromatic ketones (or imines) and aliphatic carbonyl compounds was found to be one of the important key factors in this selective cross coupling.