Access to Functionalized Cyclohex-2-enones from a Multicomponent Cascade Reaction of Readily Available Alkynes, Ketones, and Ethyl Acetoacetate

The synthesis of cyclohex-2-enone derivatives is a topic of current interest in organic chemistry. A novel three-component cascade reaction of alkynes with ketones and ethyl acetoacetate has been uncovered. This process provides di- and trisubstituted cyclohex-2-enones in good yields with excellent functional group tolerance. A variety of terminal alkynes and a wide range of aryl, alkyl, and cyclic ketones are viable in this transformation. Successful scale-up preparation and synthetic transformations have demonstrated the potential of this simple operating protocol.