Reaction of (E)-phenyl 2-pyridyl ketone O-acyloximes (PPAO) with Grignard reagents. A convenient and highly chemoselective synthesis of ketones.

The reaction of (E)-phenyl 2-pyridyl ketone O-acyloximes (PPAO) with Grignard reagents was found to be widely applicable to the chemoselective synthesis of various ketones in good yields under mild conditions.