Concomitant functionalization of two different ketones by merging Brønsted acid catalysis and radical relay coupling

Abstract

In the previous literature, incorporation of functional groups at the α-position of unactivated carbonyl compounds was mainly restricted to one kind of corresponding precursor. Herein, we report the concomitant functionalization of two distinct α-C–H bonds of carbonyls integrated with unactivated olefins and tert-butyl hydroperoxide selectively and efficiently in one pot by merging Brønsted acid catalysis and radical relay coupling, which delivers an array of structurally valuable unsymmetrical peroxy 1,9-diketones in moderate to good yields under metal-free conditions.