i‑Pr₂NMgCl·LiCl Enables the Synthesis of Ketones by Direct Addition of Grignard Reagents to Carboxylate Anions

The direct preparation of ketones from carboxylate anions is greatly limited by the required use of organolithium reagents or activated acyl sources that need to be independently prepared. Herein, a specific magnesium amide additive is used to activate and control the addition of more tolerant Grignard reagents to carboxylate anions. This strategy enables the modular synthesis of ketones from CO₂ and the preparation of isotopically labeled pharmaceutical building blocks in a single operation.