A New Julia-Type Reagent for Methylenation Reactions

Ando et al. have reported that 1-methyl-2-(methylsulfonyl)benzimidazole (1) can be used as a methylene source and applied to the Julia-Kocienski-type methylenation reaction. 1 successfully reacts with aldehydes and ketones in the presence of a base at room temperature to afford the desired methylene derivatives. In this reaction, various ketones such as α,β-unsaturated ketones and sterically hindered ketones are applicable. In addition, after the reaction, formed byproducts of a benzimidazole derivative can be easily removed by the extraction.