Photo-mediated [1, 3]-Carbonyl shift of β-Ketocarbonyls

Abstract

An organic amine mediated photolytic [1,3]-benzoyl migration of β-benzoyl carbonyl compounds was reported. This migration was achieved by Norrish-Yang cyclization and retro-aldol reaction under black light (365 nm) or visible light irradiation. This photolytic protocol provides an alternative approach to the synthesis of 1,5-dicarbonyl compounds. By chiral primary amine catalysis, a kinetic resolution was also developed to afford enantioenriched 1,5-dicarbonyls.