Rhodium(iii)-catalysed decarbonylative coupling of maleic anhydrides with alkynes

Abstract

A formal [5 − 1 + 2] annulation for the preparation of substituted α-pyrones is reported. The reaction involves the decarbonylative coupling of substituted maleic anhydrides with internal alkynes in the presence of a rhodium(III) catalyst and a copper(II) salt, affording tri- and tetrasubstituted α-pyrones.