Magnesium salt promoted tandem nucleophilic addition-Oppenauer oxidation of aldehydes with organozinc reagents.

A magnesium salt promoted synthesis of ketones via tandem nucleophilic addition-Oppenauer oxidation of aldehydes using organozinc chemistry was demonstrated. Magnesium salts concomitantly generated via magnesium metal mediated organohalide zincation exhibit high efficacy for nucleophilic addition of organozinc reagents to aromatic aldehydes and thereafter Oppenauer oxidation whereby ketones are formed in high to excellent yields.