A variety of α-aroylacetones 4a-g have been prepared in excellent yields following a new protocol wherein α-aminonitriles 1a-g as the aryl acyl anion equivalents readily react with propargyl bromide as the α-bromoacetone equivalent. The alkylated product undergoes one- pot unmasking of the keto functionality along with Markovnikov's hydration of the terminal alkyne with CuSO4⊙ 5H2O in aqueous methanol at 60° C to furnish the desired target in ...
