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Updated: Feb 28, 2026

A Microwave-Assisted Direct Heteroarylation of Ketones Using Transition Metal Catalysis
Published on: February 16, 2020
Direct Conversion of Carboxylic Acids to Alkyl Ketones
Javad Amani1, Gary A Molander1
1Roy and Diana Vagelos Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania , 231 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6323, United States.
Abstract:
An efficient and mild method for acyl-Csp3 bond formation based on the direct conversion of carboxylic acids has been established. This protocol is enabled by the synergistic, Ir-photoredox/nickel catalytic cross-coupling of in situ activated carboxylic acids and alkyltrifluoroborates. This versatile method is amenable to the cross-coupling of structurally diverse carboxylic acids with various potassium alkyltrifluoroborates, affording the corresponding ketones with high yields. In this operationally simple cross-coupling protocol, aliphatic ketones are obtained in one step from bench stable, readily available carboxylic acids.
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