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Updated: May 29, 2026

A Microwave-Assisted Direct Heteroarylation of Ketones Using Transition Metal Catalysis
Published on: February 16, 2020
Cyanocuprates convert carboxylic acids directly into ketones
Douglas T Genna1, Gary H Posner
1Department of Chemistry, School of Arts and Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218-2685, USA.
Abstract:
Carboxylic acids were converted directly in 56-99% yields into methyl, n-butyl, and isopropyl ketones using excess cyanocuprates R(2)CuLi·LiCN. A substrate with a stereocenter α to the carboxylic acid was converted into ketones with very little loss of enantiomeric purity. A variety of functional groups were tolerated including aryl bromides. This direct transformation of a carboxylic acid into ketone with minimal tertiary alcohol formation is proposed to involve a relatively stable copper ketal tetrahedral intermediate.
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