Flow Synthesis of Cyclobutanones via [2+2] Cycloaddition of Keteneiminium Salts and Ethylene Gas

Claudio Battilocchio^a, Grazia Iannucci^a, Shiyi Wang^a, Edouard Godineau^b, Amandine Krieger^b, Alain De Mesmaeker^b, Steven V Ley^*a

• ^a Innovative Technology Centre, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EW, UK
• ^b Syngenta Crop Protection AG, Crop Protection Research, Schaffhauserstrasse 101, CH-4332, Switzerland

A flow chemistry process for the synthesis of 2-substituted cyclobutanones, via [2+2] cycloaddition of keteneiminium salts and ethylene gas, is reported. Our approach uses rapid and mild reaction conditions to access a diverse array of products with good to excellent yield, alongside a good level of functional group compatibility.

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