Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 14, 2025

One-pot Microwave-assisted Conversion of Anomeric Nitrate-esters to Trichloroacetimidates
Published on: January 15, 2018
Carbonyl 1,2-transposition through triflate-mediated α-amination
Zhao Wu1, Xiaolong Xu1, Jianchun Wang1
1Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
This study introduces a novel method to transpose ketones to adjacent carbons, creating unusual bioactive molecules. The protocol enables selective carbonyl migration for late-stage functionalization.
Area of Science:
- Organic Chemistry
- Synthetic Methodology
- Medicinal Chemistry
Background:
- Selective carbonyl oxygen migration within molecular scaffolds is synthetically challenging.
- Existing methods often lack efficiency or regioselectivity for adjacent carbon migration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a straightforward protocol for the regioselective transposition of ketones to vicinal carbons.
- To enable late-stage functionalization for accessing novel bioactive analogs.
Main Methods:
- Conversion of ketones to alkenyl triflates.
- Palladium- and norbornene-catalyzed α-amination and ipso-hydrogenation using a bifunctional donor.
- Hydrolysis of the intermediate transposed enamine.
Main Results:
- A one- or two-pot protocol for 1,2-carbonyl migration was established.
- The method demonstrates regioselective transposition of the ketone functionality.
- Facilitates rapid synthesis of unusual bioactive analogs.
Conclusions:
- The developed method provides efficient access to 1,2-carbonyl-migrated products.
- This approach expands synthetic capabilities for drug discovery and analog generation.
Related Concept Videos
Conjugate Addition to α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds
Preparation of 1° Amines: Hofmann and Curtius Rearrangement Mechanism
Acid-Catalyzed α-Halogenation of Aldehydes and Ketones
In the first step of the mechanism, the acid protonates the carbonyl oxygen resulting in a resonance-stabilized cation, which subsequently loses an α-hydrogen to form an enol tautomer. The C=C bond in an enol is highly nucleophilic because of the electron-donating nature of the –OH group. Consequently, the double bond attacks an electrophilic halogen to form a...
α-Alkylation of Ketones via Enolate Ions
Reactions of α-Halocarbonyl Compounds: Nucleophilic Substitution
Alkylation of β-Ketoester Enolates: Acetoacetic Ester Synthesis

