One-pot synthesis of diarylmethanones through palladium-catalyzed sequential coupling and aerobic oxidation of aryl bromides with acetophenone as a latent carbonyl donor.

A one-pot palladium-catalyzed synthesis of symmetrical and unsymmetrical diarylmethanones using acetophenone and aryl bromides as raw materials has been developed. In this reaction, acetophenone acts as a latent carbonyl donor and two pathways of palladium-catalyzed sequential coupling and aerobic oxidation are identified. The reaction is applicable to a spectrum of substrates and delivers the products in moderate to good yields. This method can be used for the synthesis of ketoprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, in a two-step procedure and 45% overall yield.