Microwave-Enhanced Coupling of Carboxylic Acids with Liquid Ketones and Cyclic Ethers Using Tetrabutylammonium Iodide/t‑Butyl Hydroperoxide

The oxidative coupling of carboxylic acids with liquid ketones and cyclic ethers has been accomplished in minutes using t-butyl hydroperoxide in the presence of tetrabutylammonium iodide under microwave irradiation in the absence of a solvent. In addition to drastically shortening the reaction times, the use of microwaves resulted, in general, in yields equal to or higher than those obtained by conventional heating.