Bromophilic substitution/carbophilic substitution cascade reactions of α,α-dibromo-2-methoxyacetophenone with C-, N- and O-nucleophiles

α,α-Dibromo-2-methoxyacetophenone reacts, under mild reaction conditions, with C-, N- and O-nucleophiles via a bromophilic substitution/protonation/carbophilic substitution cascade process to afford α-monosubstituted-2-methoxyacetophenones in moderate to good yield. The only exception from this reaction pathway is the reaction with the anion derived from malononitrile in which 2-aroyl-1,1,3,3-tetracyanopropene is obtained.