Patent ID: 6924397

Claim:
A process for the preparation of α-chloroketones represented by the formula (I), wherein R is alkyl or substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl or substituted cycloalkyl, aryl or substituted aryl, heterocycle or substituted heterocycle, provided that said heterocycle is attached to —(C═O)CH 2 Cl in formula (I) at any available ring carbon atom, comprising a) reacting an alkyl ester represented by the formula (II), wherein R is as defined above, R 5 is alkyl or substituted alkyl, with a sulfoxonium ylide represented by the formula (III), wherein R 3 and R 4 are selected from the group consisting of alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl and substituted aryl, to produce a keto sulfoxonium ylide represented by the formula (IV), wherein R, R 3 and R 4 are as defined as above; and b) treating said keto sulfoxonium ylide with anhydrous HCl.