halogenomethyl ketones 2a–gvia their transformation into acetoxymethyl ketones 3a–g by
18-crown-6 catalysed substitution with NaOAc followed by Novozyme 435™ catalysed
ethanolysis. This convenient chemo-enzymatic route provides a mild, heavy-metal-free
alternative to the direct α-hydroxylations of methyl ketones 1a–g.