Reaction of phenols with α-chloro-ketones in the presence of potassium iodide
Abstract
α-Chloro-ketones (R1CHCl·COR2) reacted with phenols in acetone or ethyl methyl ketone, in the presence of potassium iodide and potassium carbonate, to give the expected α-aryloxy-ketone (ArO·CHR1·COR2) and, in many cases, two further products. These were the corresponding ketone (R1CH2·COR2), and the product of a reaction of the phenol with the solvent [ArO·CH2Ac or ArO·CH(Me)Ac] which was formed in significant amounts from α-chloro-α-phenylketones. Neither by-product was formed in the absence of iodide.