Abstract
Although α-alkylation of ketones with primary alcohols by transition-metal catalysis is well-known, the same process with secondary alcohols is arduous and complicated by self-condensation. Herein a well-defined, high-valence cobalt(III)-catalyst was applied for successful a-alkylation of ketones with secondary alcohols. A wide-variety of secondary alcohols, which include cyclic, acyclic, symmetrical, and unsymmetrical compounds, was employed as alkylating agents to produce b-alkyl aryl ketones.