AuCl3/AgSbF6-catalyzed rapid epoxide to carbonyl rearrangement

An efficient epoxide to carbonyl rearrangement using catalytic AuCl3/AgSbF6 has been presented. The reactions are fast and high yielding. β-Hydrogen migration takes place exclusively when hydrogen and methyl or substituted methyl groups are present at β-carbon of epoxide. When phenyl/acetyl/benzoyl and hydrogen are available at same carbon atom, migration of the former is preferred over the latter.