Catalytic, PMe3-mediated conversion of secondary nitroalkanes to ketones: a very mild Nef-type process

Aliphatic secondary nitro compounds are converted to ketones at room temperature, usually in 90–100% yields, by a one-pot reaction with 220–250 mol % of trimethylphosphine (PMe3) and 50–100 mol % of tBuC6H4SSC6H4tBu or PhthN-SePh, or 20 mol % of both additives. Thus, very mild catalytic variants of the reductive Nef-like reactions are disclosed.