Recyclable Palladium Catalyst for Highly Selective α Alkylation of Ketones with Alcohols

An air-stable, heterogeneous, and recyclable catalyst composed of palladium nanoparticles entrapped in aluminum hydroxide was applied to a highly selective α alkylation. A wide range of aliphatic and aromatic ketones and primary alcohols were coupled to prepare enones in an O2 atmosphere and ketones in an argon atmosphere (see scheme).