Cross-benzoin and Stetter-type reactions mediated by KOtBu-DMF via an electron-transfer process

The condensation of aromatic alpha-diketones (benzils) with aromatic aldehydes ( benzoin-type reaction) and chalcones ( Stetter-type reaction) in DMF in the presence of catalytic ( 25 mol%) KOtBu is reported. Both types of umpolung processes proceed with good efficiency and complete chemoselectivity. On the basis of spectroscopic evidence ( MS analysis) of plausible intermediates and literature reports, the occurrence of different ionic pathways have been evaluated to elucidate the mechanism of a model cross-benzoinlike reaction along with a radical route initiated by an electron-transfer process to benzil from the carbamoyl anion derived from DMF. This mechanistic investigation has culminated in a different proposal, supported by calculations and a trapping experiment, based on double electron-transfer to benzil with formation of the corresponding enediolate anion as the key reactive intermediate. A mechanistic comparison between the activation modes of benzils in KOtBu-DMF and KOtBu-DMSO systems is also described.