Microfluidic synthesis of α-ketoesters via oxidative coupling of acetophenones with alcohols under metal-free conditions

Abstract

An efficient and novel method for the synthesis of α-ketoesters has been developed <italic>via</italic> oxidative coupling of acetophenones with alcohols under TBHP/I₂/DBU conditions in a microfluidic chip reactor, which has a wide substrate scope, uses a lower dosage of iodine and affords higher product yields in only a few seconds.