Copper-Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidative C–C Bond Cleavage of 1,3-Diaryl­diketones To Synthesize 1,2-Diketones

An aerobic oxidative C–C bond cleavage of 1,3-diaryldiketones for the synthesis of 1,2-diketones by using O₂ as the oxidant has been developed. Control experiments illustrate that the copper catalyst not only assist the aerobic oxidative process of 1,3-diketones, but also catalyze the 1,2-Wagner–Meerwein-type rearrangement process.