We wish to present details about a simple, high-yield, two-step synthesis of symmetrically substituted a-diones' and about how it can be extended to the preparation of unsymmetrically substituted a-diones (Scheme 1). The method is based on the well-known2 synthesis of aldehydes and ketones using dialkylamides and Grignard or organolithium reagents (eq 11, in which the stability
