Transition metal free α-C-alkylation of ketones using secondary alcohols

A base-mediated α-C-alkylation of ketones with secondary alcohols has been developed. This transition metal free approach employs KOt-Bu as the base and exhibits a broad scope, allowing a range of commodity aliphatic secondary alcohols and 1-arylethanols to be employed as alkylating agents. Aryl methyl ketones undergo selective mono-α-C-alkylation in high isolated yields (23 examples, 65% average yield).