1-Bromo-3-buten-2-one is investigated as a building block for organic synth
esis. Reduction to the corresponding alcohol works best with lithium alumin
ium hydride, reaction with primary amines gives 5-membered-aza-heterocycles
in moderate yields and reaction with activated methylene compounds to form
5-membered-carbocycles gave unsatisfactory yields when a one-pot-procedure
was used. The first step of a stepwise protocol, a Michael addition, is di
scussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.