High-Yield Acyl Anion Trapping Reactions: Syntheses of α-Hydroxy Ketones and 1,2-Diketones

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00155a057

The in situ generation of n-C4H9C(O)Li by the reaction of n-C4H9Li with CO at -110 deg C in the presence of ketones gives good (50-90percent) yields of α-hydroxy ketones.When the n-C4H9C(O)Li reaction is carried out in the presence of esters, good (65-80percent) yields of α-diketones are obtained, thus demonstrating that RC(O)Li can be reagents of practical utility.Similar reactions were observed with sec-C4H9Li and tert-C4H9Li.