A Simple and Efficient Route for the Synthesis of α-Hydroxycyclohexanones in the Presence of a Diacidic Ionic Liquid

α-Hydroxy ketones are important intermediates in organic synthesis. This study introduces a new, mild, and efficient method for synthesizing α-hydroxy ketones. First, 1-arylcyclohexan-1-ols are synthesized by reacting arylmagnesium bromides with cyclohexanone. Next, dehydration of 1-arylcyclohexan-1-ols is performed using a sulfonated diacidic ionic liquid, and the subsequent oxidation of 1-arylcyclohex-1-enes yields α-hydroxycyclohexanones. This work innovates a simple procedure utilizing an eco-friendly and reusable reagent for dehydration.