Synthesis of 1,3-diaryl butanones from acetophenones via a tandem reaction

A tandem reaction for the simple construction of 1,3-diaryl butanones from acetophenones was developed. Anhydrous HI was generated in situ by the promotion of the [Rh]- complex with molecular hydrogen and iodine. The acetophenones undergo aldol reactions by anhydrous HI firstly, and then hydrogenation reactions by the same [Rh]-complex to generate the corresponding 1,3-diaryl butanones in one pot.