Numerous aryl bromides and iodides react with acetone enolate ion in liquid ammonia under irradiation to form arylacetones in high yield. This synthesis is successful with bromo- or iodobenzene derivatives carrying alkoxy, alkyl, phenyl, halogen, and carboxylate substituents, and with halogen derivatives of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. The method is remarkably insensitive to steric hindrance; for example, 2, 4, 6- ...
