Direct Conversion of Carboxylic Acids to Alkyl Ketones

An efficient and mild method for acyl-C-sp3 bond formation based on the direct conversion of carboxylic acids has been established. This protocol is enabled by the synergistic, Ir-photoredox/nickel catalytic cross-coupling of in situ activated carboxylic acids and alkyltrifluoroborates. This versatile method is amenable to the cross-coupling of structurally diverse carbokylic acids with various potassium alkyltrifluoroborates, affording the corresponding ketones with high yields. In this operationally simple cross-coupling protocol, aliphatic ketones are obtained in one step from bench stable, readily available carboxylic acids.