10.1021/jo00326a023
The research focuses on the synthesis of α-acyloxy carbonyl compounds through the reaction of enol silyl ethers with silver carboxylates and iodine. The purpose of this study is to develop a new and efficient method for introducing oxygen adjacent to a carbonyl group, which is a useful functionalization in organic synthesis. The researchers found that this method allows for a wide range of variation in the acyloxy portion of the molecule and is particularly successful with five- and six-membered ring enol silyl ethers. However, when applied to larger ring sizes, the formation of α-iodo carbonyl compounds occurs as a significant side reaction. The study concludes that the method is regiospecific and mild, making it potentially useful for functionalizing cyclopentanones and cyclohexanones. The chemicals used in the process include various enol silyl ethers, silver carboxylates such as silver acetate, silver benzoate, and silver trifluoroacetate, and iodine.