Direct access to ketones from aldehydes via rhodium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction with potassium trifluoro(organo)borates.

A direct cross-coupling reaction of aromatic aldehydes with potassium trifluoro(organo)borates afforded ketones in high yields and under mild conditions in the presence of a rhodium catalyst and acetone. This new reaction, involving a formal aldehyde C-H bond activation, is believed to proceed via a Heck-type mechanism followed by hydride transfer to acetone.