Dibromomethane as one-carbon source in organic synthesis: microwave-accelerated α-methylenation of ketones with dibromomethane and diethylamine

The reactivity of aryl alkyl ketone with a preheated mixture of dibromomethane and diethylamine is poor and gives an α-methylenation product in very low yield even under refluxing condition. It can be accelerated dramatically by microwave irradiation. Under microwave condition, the cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyls, aryl alkyl ketones, heteroaryl alkyl ketones and acyclic benzyl ketone give α-methylenation products in modest to good yields.