Synthesis of Ketones through Microwave Irradiation Promoted Metal-Free Alkylation of Aldehydes by Activation of C(sp³)–H Bond

In this paper, a novel methodology for the synthesis of ketones via microwave irradiation promoted direct alkylation of aldehydes by activation of the inert C­(sp³)–H bond has been developed. Notably, the reactions were accomplished under metal-free conditions and used commercially available aldehydes and cycloalkanes as substrates without prefunctionalization. By using this novel method, an alternative synthetic approach toward the key intermediates for the preparation of the pharmaceutically valuable oxaspiroketone derivatives was successfully established.