Transition-Metal-Free -Arylation of Enolizable Aryl Ketones and Mechanistic Evidence for a Radical Process

The -arylation of enolizable aryl ketones can be carried out with aryl halides under transition-metal-free conditions using KOtBu in DMF. The -aryl ketones thus obtained can be used for step- and cost-economic syntheses of fused heterocycles and Tamoxifen. Mechanistic studies demonstrate the synergetic role of base and solvent for the initiation of the radical process.