Addition of grignard reagents to aryl acid chlorides: an efficient synthesis of aryl ketones

[chemical reaction: see text]. Direct addition of Grignard reagents to acid chlorides in the presence of bis[2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl] ether proceeds selectively to provide aryl ketones in high yields. A possible tridentate interaction between Grignard reagents and bis[2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl] ether moderates the reactivity of Grignard reagents, preventing the newly formed ketones from nucleophilic addition by Grignard reagents.