Efficient Conversion of Esters to α‐Trimethylsilylketones. Preliminary communication

Secondary and tertiary carboxylic methyl or ethyl esters (2a‐c) were converted with trimethylslylmethyllithium (3a‐c) in high yields. Under identical reaction conditions the primary esters 2d,e gave 3d, e in lower yields. Since the trimethylsilyl (TMS) group α to a ketone is known to undergo facile elimination under a variety of reaction conditions, the method also constitutes a highly versatile ester to methylketone sequence.