Synthesis of α,β-Unsaturated Ketones via Enamines

Abstract

Acylation of an enamine followed by acid hydrolysis constitutes the well-known Stork's reaction of synthesizing β-diketones.^1,2 This article reports that the acylated enamine 1 which corresponds to monoenamine of a β-diketone can be hydrogenated to a Mannich base 2 which on elimination by heating or treatment with acid yields the α, β-unsaturated ketone 3; further hydrogenation gives saturated ketone 4 in good yield (Scheme 1). A similar transformation effected by hydroboration has been reported by Montury and Góre.