Highly reactive metal carbenes, generated from simple ketones via diazo compounds, including diazo-amides and -phosphonates, using a recyclable reagent in-flow, are transient but versatile electrophiles for heteroatom alkylation reactions and for epoxide formation. The method produces no organic waste, with the only by-products being water, KI and nitrogen, without the attendant hazards of isolation of intermediate diazo compounds.
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