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Abstract
The reaction of carbonic acid esters RCO2R1 with carbanions R2−Metal such as Grignard reagents or enolate anions fails to produce R1−R2 encounters due to preferred attack at the carbonyl function1. We have now discovered that SN1-reactive acetic acid esters undergo smooth C-C-bond formation with silyl enol ethers2 in the presence of ZnI2 to afford α-alkylated ketones. Products due to Claisen ester condensation are not observed. As a prime example, 1 or 2 were found to be excellent prenylating agents: