Synthesis of carbonyl and dicarbonyl compounds from organometallic reagents and N-imidazolium-N-methyl amides and bis-amides

Abstract

A new method for the synthesis of selective acylating agents is described from the reaction of carboxylic acids with 3-methyl-1-methylamino-3H-imidazol-1-ium salts in the presence of appropriate coupling reagents. The amides and bis-amides thus prepared reacted selectively with organometallics to afford ketones and diketones and with DIBALH to give aldehydes and dialdehydes in high yields.