REACTIVITY REDEFINED: DIVERSE CARBONYLATION STRATEGIES OF PHCU·P(N-BUTYL)3 FOR THE SYNTHESIS OF BENZOPHENONE

Abstract

The carbonylation of alkylcopper reagents, as initially demonstrated by Jeffery Schwartz in 1972, represents a critical synthetic pathway for generating symmetrical ketones through quenching with dilute aqueous acid. While this groundbreaking discovery has been pivotal for the synthesis of symmetrical ketones, it has primarily focused on dialkyl cuprates and alkylcopper complexes of tri-n-butylphosphine. Interestingly, the simple alkylcopper compounds, without the presence of tri-n-butylphosphine, do not exhibit similar reactivity. Remarkably, the scope of this reaction has yet to be explored in the context of arylcopper reagents, a class of compounds that holds immense significance in organic synthesis. Consequently, this study aims to bridge this knowledge gap by investigating the carbonylation reaction with arylcopper reagents, shedding light on the potential of extending this versatile transformation to a broader range of substrates. The outcome of this research may not only expand the synthetic toolbox but also provide valuable insights into the reactivity patterns of arylcopper compounds in carbonylation reactions