Selective synthesis of α-bromo and α, α-dibromoalkanones using dioxane–dibromide and silica gel in solvent-free conditions under microwave irradiation has been reported. The amount of dioxane–dibromide, silica gel and time of irradiation are keys for the selective synthesis of α-bromo and α, α-dibromoalkanones.
[Terentev, Alexander O.; Krylov, Igor B.; Vil, Vera A.; Pastukhova, Zhanna Yu.; Fastov, Sergey A.; Nikishin, Gennady I. Central European Journal of Chemistry, 2012 , vol. 10, # 2 p. 360 - 367]