Amberlyst-15®-promoted efficient 2-halogenation of 1,3-keto-esters and cyclic ketones using N-halosuccinimides

A simple and rigid process has been developed for the alpha-monohalogenation of 1,3-keto-esters with N-halosuccinimides catalyzed by Amberlyst-15((R)) at room temperature to produce the corresponding 2-halo 1,3-keto-esters in high yields. This protocol also extended to alpha-halogenation of cyclic ketones. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.