Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of α-Hydroxy Aromatic Ketones From α-Bromo Aromatic Ketones

In the synthesis of various natural products and pharmacologically active compounds, α-hydroxyketones are potentially valuable synthetic intermediates for the preparation of a range of compounds of biological products. We have developed a very clean, simple and convenient method for the synthesis of α-hydroxyketones. A novel reaction of α-bromo aromatic ketones with irradiation under microwave gave the corresponding α-hydroxy aromatic ketones in excellent yields (85-95%). The synthesis of α-hydroxyketones was irradiated by microwave (200W) in water and pressure (0.3 MPa) at 110 ^oC for 25 min, which was more convenient than the method used heretofore. The use of microwaves was found to significantly improve the reaction yields and shorten the reaction time.