Unexpected Ti(III)/Mn-promoted pinacol coupling of ketones.

Titanocene(III) chemistry has emerged in the last decades as an indispensable tool in C-C bond-forming reactions. In this context, pinacol and related reactions allow the stereoselective synthesis of vicinal diols. In this work, we present new applications of these reactions using as starting materials aromatic ketones. Simple and smooth reaction conditions have been developed and have been applied for inter- and intramolecular processes. We also describe that although Cp(2)TiCl is usually used as a monoelectronic reducing agent, it can be also used as an efficient Lewis acid.