Chemo-enzymatic preparation of hydroxymethylketones

Abstract

A series of hydroxymethyl ketones 4a–g were obtained from the corresponding halogenomethyl ketones 2a–gvia their transformation into acetoxymethyl ketones 3a–g by 18-crown-6 catalysed substitution with NaOAc followed by Novozyme 435™ catalysed ethanolysis. This convenient chemo-enzymatic route provides a mild, heavy-metal-free alternative to the direct α-hydroxylations of methyl ketones 1a–g.