Novel reactions of indium reagents with 1,2-diones:: a facile synthesis of α-hydroxy ketones

Indium mediated reactions of allyl, cinnamyl, propargyl and benzyl bromides, ethyl bromoacetate and ethyl-4-bromocrotonate with 1,2-diones, in the presence of sodium iodide, occur efficiently to afford alpha -hydroxy keto compounds in excellent yields. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.