ChemInform Abstract: Efficient Method for Pinacol Coupling of Aromatic and Aliphatic Ketones by Using Titanium(II) Chloride and Zinc in the Presence of Pivalonitrile

The reductive coupling reaction of aromatic and aliphatic ketones including acyclic aliphatic ketones proceeded smoothly to give the corresponding pinacols in good to high yields below room temperature by the combined use of titanium(II) chloride and zinc in the presence of pivalonitrile. Meso-selective formation of the coupling products was observed in the cases with some acyclic aliphatic ketones.