Microwave assisted generation and trapping of acetylketene

Acetylketene is a reactive intermediate, which is generally generated by the reflux of 2,2,6-trimethyl-4H-1,3-dioxin-4-one in the presence of a trapping agent in toluene. In this work acetylketene is generated using microwave radiation. Microwave-assisted generation and trapping of acetylketene has several advantages. The heating time is only 20 minutes and a small amount of solvent (10 mL) is used. The yields are good when alcohols and aldehydes are used as trapping agents. In the case of ketones as trapping agents, there was no reaction with acetophenone. However acetylketene reacted to some extent with trifluoroacetophenone.