One-Pot Synthesis of 2,3-Disubstituted Indanone Derivatives in Water under Exogenous Ligand-Free and Mild Conditions.

Diverse 2,3-substituted indanones are accessed in an efficient and robust protocol by a rhodium-catalyzed tandem carborhodium/cyclization and intramolecular proton shift pathway. The reaction is compatible with a broad range of functional internal acetylenes, especially for natural and functionalized alkynes derivatives, affording the desired indanones in good to excellent yields. Remarkably, this reaction features very mild and sustainable conditions using water as the sole solvent and without exogenous ligands. Control studies support that indanone is formed through the intramolecular proton transfer process from the key intermediate indenol.

Direct Access to α,ß-Unsaturated Ketones via Rh/MgCl2-Mediated Acylation of Vinylsilanes.

We report herein the facile and practical construction of α,ß-unsaturated ketones via rhodium-catalyzed direct acylation of vinylsilanes with readily available and abundant carboxylic acids. This protocol features access to a diverse array of synthetically useful functionalities with moderate to excellent yields. More importantly, the late-stage functionalization of pharmaceuticals was also realized with synthetically useful yield.