Indium-Mediated Reformatsky Reaction of lododifluoro Ketones with Aldehydes: Preparation of alpha,alpha-Difluoro-beta-hydroxyketone Derivatives in Water

Indium can efficiently mediate the Reformatsky reaction of iododifluoroacetylketones with aldehydes to afford the corresponding alpha,alpha-difluoro-beta-hydroxyketones in high yield in pure water This reaction has excellent substrate suitability and functional group selectivity and provides an efficient approach for the synthesis of bioactive molecules containing the alpha,alpha-difluoro-beta-hydroxyketone pharmacophore.