Chemoselective α-Methylenation of Aromatic Ketones Using the NaAuCl4/Selectfluor/DMSO System.

Gold-catalyzed chemoselective α-methylenation of aromatic ketones was developed through the use of Selectfluor as a methylenating agent. A variety of useful 1,2-disubstituted propenone derivatives can be prepared in good yields via the present protocol. This reaction features a simple operation, good functional group tolerance, and broad scope of substrates.