Method of preparation of alkylated 1,3-diphenylpropan-2-ones, the components for assembly of graphene nanostructures

Long-chain alkylated 1,3-diphenyl-2-propanones are used in the synthesis of graphene nanostructures (graphene nanoribbons and quantum dots). A reliable procedure to obtain mono- or dialkylated diphenyl-2-propanones in 26 and 38% yields has been proposed. The method includes the dioxolane protection of the keto group in 1,3-di-(4-bromophenyl)-2-propanone, then a palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of the obtained dioxolane with one-and-a-half- or four-fold excess of dodecyl magnesium bromide that leads to a predominant formation of mono- or dialkylation products respectively, followed by hydrolysis of dioxolanes at the last stage to form the desired diphenyl-2-propanones.