2-Acylbuta-1,3-dienes have been synthesized regioselectively from aromatic and heteroaromatic
β,γ-unsaturated ketones (readily accessible via base-catalyzed addition of ketones
to acetylenes) and aldehydes. The reaction smoothly proceeds with piperidine (10 mol%)/acetic
acid (10 mol%) catalytic pair in boiling toluene to provide synthetically attractive
polyconjugated electron-deficient dienes in up to 94% yield.
Key words
condensation - C–C bond formation - unsaturated ketones - aldehydes - conjugated dienes