Catalyst- and halogen-free regioselective Friedel-Crafts α-ketoacylations

Abstract

Fast, efficient and green! Highly regioselective and efficient catalyst- and halogen-free Friedel-Crafts α-ketoacylation reactions leading to heterocycles functionalized with a very versatile 1,3-diketone moiety are described. The reactions rely on microwave-assisted domino Wolff rearrangement/Friedel-Crafts sequences from 2-diazo-1,3-diketones via transient, highly reactive α-keto ketene intermediates.