Table 2.

Scope of Ketone Synthesis^a

entry	1	2 (R2-X)	product	yield (%)b
1	1a	I-C8H17 (2a)	3	86
2c	1b	2a		74
3	1a	2c	4	91
4d	1a	2d	5	49e
5	1c	2c	6	82
6	1d	2e	7	78
7	1e	2c	8	72
8f	1e	2d	9	33
9	1f	2e	10	91
10	1f	2c	11	67

^aGeneral conditions: 1.5 mmol of 1, 1.0 mmol of 2, 0.05 mmol NiCl₂(dme), 0.055 mmol 4,4′-di-tert-butyl-2,2′-bipyridine (dtbpy), 3 mmol Mn, in 2 mL of DMA at 0 °C for 13–30 h.

^bYield of isolated, purified product.

^c1 Equiv of thioester 1b was used in place of acid chloride 1a and Zn was used in place of Mn.

^d2 Equiv of 1a was used.

^eProduct contained a small amount of diethyl succinate, yield of 5 determined by NMR.

^fRun at 30 °C instead of 0 °C.