Ronald B. Jobson

A new general method for preparation of N-methoxy-N-methylamides. Application in direct conversion of an ester to a ketone

Abstract The reaction of an ester with N , O -dimethylhydroxylamine and a suitable organomagnesium reagent or lithium amide base provides a general method for the preparation of N -methoxy- N -methylamides. Application in the direct conversion of a highly hindered ester to a ketone, the azasteroid 5α-reductase inhibitor MK-0434, is described.

Characterization of the actual catalytic agent in potassium fluoride on activated alumina systems

Abstract The spectral and chemical properties of potassium fluoride on activated alumina, an extensively used basic catalyst in organic synthesis, show that its unusually high reactivity relative to other fluoride-containing basic systems is due to the reaction of the fluoride ion with alumina to produce potassium hexafluoroaluminiate, potassium hydroxide and potassium aluminate. The reagent, more simply prepared from alumina and KOH, catalyzes the high-yielding addition of chloroform to m-nitrobenzaldehyde without producing Cannizzaro side-products.