Transformation of Aldehydes and Ketones into Homologous Carboxylic Acids

Krohn et al. have reported the transformation reaction of several aldehydes and ketones into carboxylic acids using the 1-oxide derivative introduced from 2-trimethylsilyl-1,3-dithiane. According to their results, the intermediate ketene dithioacetals are hydrolyzed in acidic acetonitrile to give the corresponding homologous carboxylic acids in good yields. The one-carbon homologation reaction is an important transformation in organic synthesis, and therefore various applications using their methodology also can be fully expected.