A fast one-pot method has been developed for the direct preparation of 3-aryl-1, 2- cyclohexanediones from 2, 3-epoxycyclohexanone via a microwave-assisted tandem epoxy ketone isomerization-Heck arylation reaction. The preparative microwave-assisted reactions were performed preferentially in 50% aqueous poly (ethylene glycol) utilizing sodium acetate as the base. Within 5-30 min of directed microwave heating, employing less than ...