First synthesis of 1-aryl-4,4-dichlorobut-3-en-1-ones. The electrochemical reduction of 1-aryl-4,4,4-trichlorobut-2-en-1-ones as a key step

The first method for the synthesis of 1-aryl-4,4-dichlorobut-3-en-1-ones is reported. Treatment of acetophenones with anhydrous chloral leads to 1-aryl-4,4,4-trichloro-3-hydroxybutan-1-ones in near quantitative yields. These compounds were efficiently dehydrated with either sulfuric or p-toluenesulfonic acid to give 1-aryl-4,4,4-trichlorobut-2-en-1-ones, which were selectively converted to the title compounds in fair to quantitative yields by electrochemical reduction. The X-ray crystallographic structure of 4,4-dichloro-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)but-3-en-1-one has been determined. The preferential formation of β,γ-unsaturated ketones with total exclusion of the corresponding α,β-unsaturated isomers has been discussed with the aid of HF and B3LYP density functional theory methods.