Simple and Efficient Procedure for the One‐Pot Synthesis of β‐Acetamido‐β‐aryl‐propiophenones by Molecular Iodine–Catalyzed Tandem Reaction

Molecular iodine efficiently catalyzes the four‐component tandem reaction of araldehydes, arylmethyl ketones, acetyl chloride, and acetonitrile to afford the corresponding β‐acetamido‐β‐aryl‐propiophenones. The new protocol gives high yields of the products, and the reactions go to completion within 10–15 min on a hot plate at 80–85°C.