Easy and general synthesis of unsymmetrical α-halogeno ketones

Abstract

The reaction of carboxylic acid esters 1 with in situ generated bromohalomethyllithium (1 : 2 molar ratio) at –78 °C followed by reaction with lithium dialkylcuprate (1 : 1 molar ratio) at O °C, leads, after hydrolysis, to the corresponding α-chloro or α-bromo ketones 3.