Acyloins from Morita–Baylis–Hillman adducts: an alternative approach to the racemic total synthesis of bupropion

In this Letter, we describe an easy and straightforward strategy for the preparation of acyloins (α-hydroxyketones) from Morita–Baylis–Hillman adducts, based on a Curtius rearrangement. Different acyloins were obtained with good overall yield (>40% for three steps). To exemplify the synthetic usefulness of this strategy, total synthesis of (±)-bupropion, a dopamine, and nor-epinefrine reuptake inhibitor has been accomplished in eight steps with an overall yield of 25%.