Iron-catalyzed cross-aldol reactions of ortho-diketones and methyl ketones were developed and the thus formed aldol products were efficiently transformed into cyclohepta-2,4,6-trienone derivatives (tropones) under thermal conditions via ring-expansion.

2,2-Disubstituted cyclic 1,3-diketones containing a tethered electron-deficient alkene undergo chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed desymmetrizing Michael cyclizations to give bridged bicyclic products in high enantioselectivities. Both bicyclo[3.2.1]octanes and bicyclo[3.3.1]nonanes are accessible using this methodology.

A new variant of the NO(2)-to-CO transformation (the Nef reaction) that occurs at room temperature under neutral conditions is uncovered. After the conversion of secondary nitroalkanes to phenylsulfenylketimines, these thiooximes are hydrolyzed quantitatively in situ, in THF-H(2)O at pH 7, by addition of AuBr(3) (but not with other MX(n)!). Adducts arising from asymmetric nitro-Michael and nitr...

The oxidation of β-hydroxyketones to β-diketones was systematically investigated. o-Iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX) was found to be efficient, operationally easy, and superior to other common oxidants. The reaction is suitable for milligram- to gram-scale oxidations.

Societal Impact Statement In blueberry, fruit color is one of the most important quality traits affecting consumers' choices. Both pigments and waxes impact color; however, their roles have not been clearly elucidated. Here, contributions anthocyanins to are characterized. A higher content ?-diketones—the second largest wax group in blueberries—determines a lighter hence revealing that, at harv...

In present paper a simple procedure for the synthesis of enaminones without catalyst from 1,3-diketones that reacted with primary or secondary amines in ethanol as solvent, as well as the reaction of enaminones with unsaturated esters such as dimethyl acetylene dicarboxylate are reported.

The first mercury-catalyzed synthesis of 1,2-diketones by alkyne oxidation has been developed. This inexpensive method extends the potential mercury catalysis and allows rapid construction various α-carbonyl amides in good yields with high functional group tolerance.