DMSO-promoted α-bromination of α-aryl ketones for the construction of 2-aryl-2-bromo-cycloketones.

A DMSO-promoted practical one-step α-bromination reaction of α-aryl ketones with NBS has been developed for the construction of 2-aryl-2-bromo-cycloketones. The desired regioselective α-bromination products were isolated in moderate to good yields, with a maximum tested scale of 15 mmol. Notably, ketamine derivatives could be smoothly synthesized in two steps.