sodium-hypochlorite and benzil

An efficient and practical method for the synthesis of unsymmetric benzils from readily available β-ketoaldehydes has been developed. Various unsymmetric 1,2-diaryldiketones bearing functional groups have been obtained in good to excellent yields under mild reaction conditions. A plausible mechanism was proposed, and α,α-dichloroketone was considered as the key intermediate. The generation of α,α-dichloroketones from β-ketoaldehydes may undergo the following steps: (1) oxidation by sodium hypochlorite, (2) decarboxylation, and (3) chlorination by Cl2 generated from sodium hypochlorite.

Topics: Aldehydes; Catalysis; Decarboxylation; Halogenation; Ketones; Molecular Structure; Oxidation-Reduction; Phenylglyoxal; Sodium Hypochlorite