Copper(I)‐Catalyzed α‐Acryloyloxylation of Ketones with α,β‐Unsaturated Carboxylic Acids To Form α‐Acryloyloxy Ketones

An efficient method for the α‐C–H acryloyloxylation of ketones with α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acids was developed, using copper(I) as a catalyst. The most concise approach to form α‐acryloyloxy ketones is through direct oxidative coupling at the α‐C(sp 3 )–H position of ketones. This method gives the products in high yields, and has a wide substrate scope in terms of both ketones and unsaturated carboxylic acids. A copper(I)‐catalyzed reaction mechanism is proposed based on the results of control experiments.