An Efficient Method for theSynthesis of α-Hydroxyalkyl Aryl Ketones

Abstract

Exposure of alkyl aryl ketones to Oxone (R)/trifluoroacetic anhydride in the presence of a catalytic amount of iodobenzene affords alpha-hydroxyalkyl aryl ketones in good yield. This method provides an effective and economical entry for the installation of alpha-hydroxy moieties into ketones and should find wide application in the construction of the a-hydroxy ketone subunit in natural product synthesis.