Tetraethylammonium iodide catalyzed synthesis of diaryl ketones via the merger of cleavage of C–C double bonds and recombination of aromatic groups

Abstract

An efficient method for synthesizing diaryl ketones via merging of oxidative cleavage of C–C double bonds and recombination of aromatic groups is developed with Et₄NI (2.5 mol%) as the catalyst and NaIO₄ as the oxidant. The control experiments provide valuable mechanistic insights into the formation of diaryl ketones, and suggest that NaIO₄ serves as an epoxidation and nucleophilic deformylation reagent.