Nazarov reactions intercepted by (4 + 3) cycloadditions with oxygen-substituted dienes.

The oxyallyl cation intermediate from the Lewis acid mediated Nazarov reaction of an allenyl vinyl ketone was intercepted by acyclic, 2-silyloxy-substituted butadienes by highly regioselective (4 + 3) cycloadditions. Stereoselectivity was often modest, but in some instances steric interactions were responsible for high selectivity. The results are consistent with concerted (4 + 3) cycloadditions. In many instances, the (4 + 3) products were susceptible to fragmentation or rearrangement in the presence of the Lewis acid.