Clay and clay-supported reagents in organic synthesisRajender S. VarmaTetrahedron 58 (2002) p.1235-1255An overview over the possibilities and applications of different clays in organic chemistry. Solventfree reductive aminations of carbonyl compounds on clay, oxidations of alcohols to carbonyls by clayfen, conversions of aldehydes to nitriles, synthesis of imines and enamines, Friedel-Crafts, Diels-Alder, Suzuki and Heck arylation reactions can be done using clay reagents, as well as dehydrations, isomerizations and addition reactions...
Selective Nitration of Styrenes with Clayfen and Clayan: A Solvent-free Synthesis of ?-NitrostyrenesVarma, Rajender S.; Naicker, Kannan P.; Liesen, Per J.Tetrahedron Letters 39, 23 (1998) pp. 3977-3980AbstractA facile, solvent-free synthesis of beta-nitrostyrenes is described from styrene and its substituted derivatives using inexpensive "doped" clay reagents, clayfen and clayan.
Looks useful for arriving at ketones in connection with
Post 458467
(Rhodium: "Oximes from Nitroalkenes using Decaborane CTH", Novel Discourse) Solid State Regeneration of Ketones from Oximes on Wet Silica Supported Sodium Periodate Using MicrowavesVarma, Rajender S.; Dahiya, Rajender; Saini, Rajesh K. Tetrahedron Letters 38, 51 (1997) pp. 8819-8820Abstract
Microwave irradiation of ketoximes on wet silica supported sodium periodate under solvent-free conditions provides a fast, efficient and simple method for regeneration of ketones.
Clay catalyzed synthesis of imines and enamines under solvent-free conditions using microwave irradiation (Varma, Rajender S.; Dahiya, Rajender; Kumar, Sudhir)Tetrahedron Letters 38, 12 (1997) pp. 2039-2042Abstract
The reactions of primary and secondary amines with aldehydes and ketones, respectively, are accelereated by microwaves under solvent-free conditions in the presence of montmorillonite K 10 clay to afford a high yield synthesis of imines and enamines.
Microwave-assisted oxidation of alcohols under solvent-free conditions using clayfen (Varma, Rajender S.; Dahiya, Rajender)Tetrahedron Letters 38, 12 (1997) pp. 2043-2044Abstract
Adsorbed on clayfen, alcohols are readily oxidized to carbonyl compounds upon exposure to microwaves under solvent-free conditions. Tis rapid, selective and environmentally benign method conserves the use of excess solvents and toxic antioxidants usually employed.
And this transformation can also be undone...
Microwave-Assisted Reduction of Carbonyl Compounds in Solid State Using Sodium Borohydride Supported on Alumina(Varma, Rajender S.; Saini, Rajesh K.)Tetrahedron Letters 38, 25 (1997) pp. 4337-4338Abstract
A manipulatively simple and rapid method for the reduction of carbonyl compounds is described that is conducted under solventless "dry" conditions using NaBH4/alumina and microwave irradiation.