Facile Preparation of 1,2-Diketones

Abstract

Easily accessible lead-like libraries of heterocyclic molecules useful for high-throughput screening are of continuous interest to the pharmaceutical industry. A number of drug-like libraries are derived from aromatic 1,2-diketones; however, nonsymmetrical 1,2-diketones are challenging to prepare. This communication describes a simple and practical synthesis of 1,2-diketones based on a controlled cross benzoin-like condensation reaction.

Keywords:

• Cross-benzoin condensation
• 1,2-diketones

Notes

^a Isolated yields after distillation.

^b Reaction in the absence of ZnI₂ catalyst.