Yb/TMS-Br promoted homocoupling reactions of aliphatic ketones and α,β-unsaturated ketones

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)73126-1

Ytterbium metal reacts with trimethylsilyl bromide (TMS-Br) to give divalent YbBr₂. YbBr₂ thus formed in situ, causes coupling reactions of aliphatic ketones and α,β-unsaturated ketones to give bissilylated 1,2-diols and 1,6-ketones, respectively, in good yields.