Copper-catalyzed methylation of 1,3-diketones with tert-butyl peroxybenzoate

Copper-catalyzed radical methylation of 1,3-diketones with tert-butyl peroxybenzoate in air is described, providing a general pathway to α-methyl 1,3-diketones in moderate to good yields. This protocol has been scaled up to 50 g, and one of the synthesized products can be used in the synthesis of medicine, Rosuvastatin.

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