A general, selective, and facile method for ketone synthesis from acid chlorides and organotin compounds catalyzed by palladium

Transition metal catalyzed coupling reactions of organic halides with Grignard reagents or organolithium compounds generally are not applicable for ketone synthesis via the acid chlorides, since the organometallics react with the product
ketone.1 Alkylrhodium complexes, prepared from a rhodium complex and organolithium or Grignard reagents, however, may be used for alkylation of acid chlorides, giving alkyl ketones.2,3 Unfortunately, in addition to being a two-stage synthesis, this reaction is stoichiometric with respect to rhodium and will not tolerate a number of other functional groups on the acid chloride.