Catalyst bound alpha radical and synthesis of OXO compounds using the same

A single pot process for preparation of an oxo compound, wherein said process comprises:

• subjecting an iminium salt to aerobic oxidation by using an in situ generated alpha radical intermediate of formula (I) or (II) in the presence of a catalytic amount of a nucleophile and a suitable base at a temperature in a range of 0 to 30° C. to afford said oxo compound,
• wherein, the iminium salt comprises:
• (i) (E)-N,1-diphenylmethaniminum, (ii) (E)-1-(2-chloro-6-fluorophenyl)-N-phenylmethaniminium, or (iii) a bicyclic or tricyclic heteroaromatic moiety,
• wherein, said in situ generated alpha radical intermediate of formula (I) or (II) is represented as,
• wherein,
• each of R1, R2 is selected from an alkyl or aryl,
• each of R3, R4 and R5 is selected from H, an alkyl, an aryl, an alkene, an alkoxy, an amine, an alkynyl, a halide, CO, COOH, and NO2;
• CAT is derived from the nucleophile selected from 1,8-Diazabicyclo(5.4.0)undec-7-ene (DBU), 1,5,7-Triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD), a diR-phosphite, and thiophenol,
• wherein, each of R is selected from H, an alkyl, an aryl, and an alkene, and wherein R may be covalently linked to each other;
• and
• each or any combination of R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 may optionally form a cyclic ring.