Palladium(0)-catalyzed isomerization of α,β-epoxy ketones to β-diketones

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/recl.19881070324

In the presence of catalytic amounts of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) and 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane, α,β-epoxy ketones isomerize to the corresponding β-diketones in high yields.Both open-chain and cyclic substrates can be used.Possible reaction mechanisms are discussed.