Synthesis of Aryl Ketones by Coupling of Aryl Bromides with an Acyl Equivalent

Significance

The Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of aryl halides with C-H acidic compounds has recently been widely used for the preparation of aryl ketones, esters and amides. Herein, a new elegant method of the synthesis of aryl ketones is reported. It utilizes acyl anion equivalents, readily available from the corresponding aldehydes. This approach avoids the use of strongly nucleophilic organometallic reagents, often incompatible with functional groups in the molecule. The preparation of tert-butylhydrazones from aldehydes is quite simple, and the coupling reaction is highly versatile and easy to perform.