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Updated: Aug 26, 2026

A Two-Step Protocol for Umpolung Functionalization of Ketones Via Enolonium Species
Published on: August 16, 2018
Reactive barium-promoted Reformatsky-type reaction of alpha-chloroketones with aldehydes
Akira Yanagisawa1, Hiroshi Takahashi, Takayoshi Arai
1Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chiba University, Inage, Chiba 263-8522, Japan. ayanagi@scichem.s.chiba-u.ac.jp
Abstract:
A Reformatsky-type aldol reaction of alpha-chloroketones with aldehydes has been achieved using reactive barium as a low-valent metal in THF; this one-pot process is more effective for obtaining the desired beta-hydroxy ketones in high yields than the stepwise process in which barium enolates are prepared prior to the reaction with aldehydes.
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