SYNTHESIS OF CARBONYL AND DICARBONYL-COMPOUNDS FROM ORGANOMETALLIC REAGENTS AND N-IMIDAZOLIUM-N-METHYL AMIDES AND BIS-AMIDES

A new method for the synthesis of selective acylating agents is descri bed from the reaction of carboxylic acids with 3-methyl-1-methylamino- 3H-imidazol-1-ium salts in the presence of appropriate coupling reagen ts. The amides and bis-amides thus prepared reacted selectively with o rganometallics to afford ketones and diketones and with DIBALH to give aldehydes and dialdehydes in high yields. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd