Indium triflate: a mild and efficient Lewis acid catalyst for O–H insertion reactions of α-diazo ketones

Facile O–H insertion reactions of α-diazo ketones with aliphatic/aromatic alcohols or benzenethiol have been developed in the presence of indium triflate as a catalyst. These reactions provided good yields of α-alkoxy ketones. A comparative study with other Lewis acids establishes the reactivity of indium triflate in O–H insertion reactions of α-diazo ketones.