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Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Versatile CO2 Transformations into Complex Products: A One-pot Two-step Strategy
Published on: November 9, 2019
Highly efficient methods for the one-pot synthesis of beta-substituted enones
William J Kerr1, Colin M Pearson, Graeme J Thurston
1WestCHEM, Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, 295 Cathedral Street, Glasgow, Scotland, UK G1 1XL. w.kerr@strath.ac.uk
A new one-pot method enables direct beta-substitution of enones using copper catalysts and a sulfinimidoyl chloride. This convenient strategy efficiently produces various alkyl- and aryl-substituted enones.
Area of Science:
- Organic Chemistry
- Synthetic Chemistry
Background:
- Enones are versatile building blocks in organic synthesis.
- Direct functionalization of enones remains a synthetic challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a mild and practical one-pot procedure for direct beta-substitution of enones.
- To explore the utility of copper-based reagents and N-tert-butylphenylsulfinimidoyl chloride in this transformation.
Main Methods:
- A conjugate addition-oxidation strategy was employed.
- The reaction utilized a range of copper-based catalysts.
- N-tert-butylphenylsulfinimidoyl chloride served as the key reagent.
Main Results:
- The developed procedure allows for direct beta-substitution of enones.
- A variety of alkyl- and aryl-substituted enones were synthesized.
- Good to excellent yields were achieved for the target products.
Conclusions:
- A convenient and efficient one-pot method for enone beta-substitution has been established.
- This approach offers a practical route to valuable substituted enone derivatives.
- The methodology demonstrates broad applicability with diverse substrates.
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