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Updated: May 16, 2026

A Microwave-Assisted Direct Heteroarylation of Ketones Using Transition Metal Catalysis
Published on: February 16, 2020
Remote meta-C-H Olefination of α-Hydroxyacetophenones via a Microwave-Assisted Palladium-Catalyzed Template Strategy
Kurella Mounika1, Gedu Satyanarayana1
1Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Kandi, Sangareddy, Telangana 502284, India.
Abstract:
α-Hydroxyacetophenones represent important structural motifs in pharmaceuticals and functional molecules; however, their selective remote functionalization remains challenging due to the cooperative ortho-directing effects of the ketone and hydroxyl groups. Herein, we report a palladium-catalyzed, simple aliphatic nitrile template-assisted selective meta-C-H olefination of α-hydroxyacetophenones under microwave-accelerated conditions. The designed directing template overrides the intrinsic proximal bias, enabling efficient, highly regioselective meta-functionalization with broad substrate scope and applicability for drug diversification. The template can be selectively removed under mild conditions to afford free α-hydroxy ketones, which can then be further transformed into 1,2-dicarbonyl compounds.
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