An I2/KOH synergistically promoted direct ring-opening aroylation of benzothiazoles with aryl ketones has been discovered. Aryl ketones were seen to act as carbonyl sources to construct 2-acylbenzothiazoles. This reaction could provide an example for the convergent integration of self-labor domino sequences based on an in situ cross-trapping strategy.

Irradiation of terminal aromatic γ,δ-epoxy ketones with a 450 W UV lamp led to Norrish type II cyclization/semi-pinacol rearrangement cascade reaction which formed the benzocyclobutanones containing a full-carbon quaternary center, whereas irradiation of substituted aromatic γ,δ-epoxy ketones led to the indanones through a photochemical epoxy rearrangement and 1,5-biradicals cyclization tandem ...

A highly practical, catalytic enantioselective cyclic phosphite addition to aldehydes and ketones was developed. The reaction rate of the asymmetric hydrophosphonylation was significantly enhanced by the addition of silver carbonate. Particularly, significant improvement has been achieved on the asymmetric hydrophosphonylation of unactivated ketones, giving quaternary α-hydroxy phosphonates wit...

Herein we review recent advances in the asymmetric reduction of ketones by biocatalysts. Included are discussions on recent developments in methodologies to control enantioselectivities of catalytic reactions, and examples of practical applications that reduce various types of ketones are also shown. © 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Highly efficient iridium catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of simple ketones with ethanol as a hydrogen donor has been developed. By using chiral spiro iridium catalysts (S)- a series of alkyl aryl ketones were hydrogenated to chiral alcohols with up to 98% ee.

N-Heterocyclic carbenes catalyzed hydrophosphonylation reaction of α-ketoesters and α-trifluoromethyl ketones was developed. Under the catalysis of 10 mol% IPr, α-ketoesters or α-trifluoromethyl ketones reacted with dialkyl phosphites to provide quaternary α-hydroxyphosphonates in good to excellent yield.

The development and application of chiral, non-racemic Re(V)-oxo complexes to the enantioselective reduction of prochiral ketones is described. In addition to the enantioselective reduction of prochiral ketones, we report the application of these complexes to 1) a tandem Meyer-Schuster rearrangement/reduction to access enantioenriched allylic alcohols and 2) the enantioselective reduction of im...

A number of palladium-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes were found to be active catalysts for the arylation of ketones. A large number of substrates, both aryl halides and ketones, are compatible with the reaction conditions. The ketone arylation reactions are achieved with low catalyst loading in short reaction times using aryl chlorides and triflates as reactive partners. [reaction: see ...

A Michael addition reaction of cyclic ketones and piperidones to a vinyl phosphonate is described. The reaction, catalyzed by chiral diamines, produced geminal γ-oxobisphosphonates in high yields (up to 92%) and very high ees (up to >99%). Disubstituted ketones gave drs of up to 8 : 92. The synthesis and characterization of several new compounds with potential biological activity is described.

A general method for the one-pot, three-component Strecker reaction of ketones was developed using Brønsted acids as organocatalysts. A series of alpha-aminonitriles were obtained in good to excellent yields (79-99%). A preliminary extension to a catalytic enantioselective three-component Strecker reaction of ketones (up to 40% ee) is also described.