One pot direct synthesis of β-ketoesters via carbonylation of aryl halides using cobalt carbonyl

•Direct one pot synthesis of β-ketoesters from a wide variety of aryl halides.•Cobalt carbonyl as an in situ CO source in microwave irradiation without CO gas.•This is one of very few methods of making β-ketoesters in good yields.

A direct method for the synthesis of β-ketoesters from aryl halides (iodide, bromide) has been described by using cobalt carbonyl as carbon monoxide source in microwave irradiation. Using this protocol, a wide variety of substituted aryl halides has been successfully converted to corresponding β-ketoesters.

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