Solvent-free reaction on KF-alumina under microwave:: serendipitous one-pot domino synthesis of new isobenzofuran-1(3H)-ones from alpha-hydroxyketones

The reaction of four alpha-hydroxyketones 1a-d with a double equivalent of t-butyl acetylacetonate in the presence of KF-alumina under microwave irradiation afforded 6-acetyl-5-hydroxy-3,3-dialkyl-7-methyl isobenzofuran-1(3H)-ones 3a-d. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.