Indium(III)-Catalyzed Hydration and Hydroalkoxylation of α,β-Unsaturated Ketones in Aqueous Media

The hydration of α,β-unsaturated ketones with water proceeded efficiently in the presence of In(OTf)₃ (20 mol%) in aqueous media to afford synthetically versatile β-hydroxyketones in moderate to good yields with good functional group compatibility. The method also can be extended to the hydroalkoxylation of α,β-unsaturated ketones with various alcohols for the efficient synthesis of β-alkoxyketones as well as tetrahydrofuran derivatives. (Figure presented.).