Rhodium-catalyzed carbonylative synthesis of silyl-substituted indenones

Abstract

A novel and efficient rhodium-catalyzed procedure for the preparation of silyl-substituted indenones has been developed. Using silanes and internal alkynes as the substrates, in the presence of CO, good to excellent yields of the desired indenones were isolated. A wide range of functional groups, encompassing esters, amines, nitriles and halides, is compatible in this system.