The in situoxidation–Wittig reaction of α-hydroxyketones

Abstract

In situ oxidation–Wittig methodology has been applied to α-hydroxyketones avoiding the problems normally associated with α-ketoaldehydes; the procedure is practically simple, and in many cases gives high yields of the product γ-ketocrotonates; the procedure has also been successfully utilised with ethyl glycolate and glycolaldehyde dimer.