Ketonization of carboxylic acids provides an attractive way for upgrading biomass feedstocks into biofuels.

The direct electrophilic α-cyanation of β-keto esters and amides has been developed using a hypervalent iodine benziodoxole-derived cyano reagent. The procedure is accomplished within 10 min and without the use of any catalyst in DMF, at room temperature. Thus, the highly functionalized quaternary carbon-centered nitriles were produced in high to excellent yields.

The promotional effect of Ti doping on the ketonization of acetic acid over a CeO2 catalyst was investigated.

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