LiBF4: a mild and novel reagent for the OH insertion reactions of α-diazoketones

Lithium tetrafluoroborate (10 mol%) is found to catalyze efficiently the OH insertion reactions of α-diazoketones with various alcohols including benzylic, allylic, propargylic and cyclopropyl carbinols to produce the corresponding α-alkoxy ketones in excellent yields with high selectivity. A solution of 10 mol% of LiBF4 in acetonitrile provides a convenient reaction medium to carry out the OH insertion reactions under mild and neutral conditions.