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Updated: Jun 28, 2026

A Microwave-Assisted Direct Heteroarylation of Ketones Using Transition Metal Catalysis
Published on: February 16, 2020
Studies on the chemistry and reactivity of alpha-substituted ketones in isonitrile-based multicomponent reactions
Lijun Fan1, Ashley M Adams, Jason G Polisar
1Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Baker Laboratory, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-1301, USA.
Abstract:
Using the Passerini and Ugi reactions as representative tests, the utility of several alpha-substituted ketones R-CO-CH(2)-X (X = sulfonyloxy, acyloxy, azido, halo, hydroxy, and sulfonyl) in isonitrile-based multicomponent reactions was explored. In a relative rate study (R = PhCH(2)CH(2)), each of the alpha-substituted ketones underwent Passerini condensation more rapidly than the parent ketone. Short, highly convergent routes to oxazoline, beta-lactam, di-O-acylglyceramides, and other molecular frameworks were developed.
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