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Updated: Mar 24, 2026

A Microwave-Assisted Direct Heteroarylation of Ketones Using Transition Metal Catalysis
Published on: February 16, 2020
A Nitrogen-Assisted One-Pot Heteroaryl Ketone Synthesis from Carboxylic Acids and Heteroaryl Halides
Krystyna Demkiw1, Hirofumi Araki2, Eric L Elliott1
1Chemical Development Laboratories, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. , a subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, 40 Landsdowne Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States.
Abstract:
A practical and highly effective one-pot synthesis of versatile heteroaryl ketones directly from carboxylic acids and heteroaryl halides under mild conditions is reported. This method does not require derivatization of carboxylic acids (preparation of acid chlorides, Weinreb amides, etc.) or the use of any additives/catalysts. A wide substrate scope of carboxylic acids with high functional group tolerance has also been demonstrated. The results reveal that the presence of an α-nitrogen on the halide substrate greatly improves the desired ketone formation.
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