Direct conversion of aromatic ketones to arenecarboxylic esters via carbon-carbon bond-cleavage reactions

Aromatic methyl ketones, P-keto esters, and trifluoromethyl-1,3-diketones can be directly converted to arenecarboxylic esters via carbon-carbon bond cleavage of pyridinium iodide intermediates in the presence of copper(II) oxide, iodine, pyridine, and potassium carbonate in alcoholic media. The advantages of the present method in terms of good yields, mild reaction conditions, and inexpensive reagents should make this protocol a valuable alternative to the existing methods.