One-pot multicomponent synthesis of p-acetamido ketones based on BiCl3 generated in situ from the procatalyst BiOCl and acetyl chloride

Aromatic aldehydes react in one pot at room temperature with enolizable ketones and acetonitrile in the presence of acetyl chloride and catalytic amount of BiOCl producing the corresponding beta-acetamido ketones in very high to excellent yields. BiCl3 generated in situ from BiOCl and acetyl chloride catalyzes the multicomponent reaction.