Rhodium-Catalyzed Regio- and Stereoselective Codimerization of Alkenes and Electron-Deficient Internal Alkynes Leading to 1,3-Dienes

A cationic rhodium(I)/H(8)-BINAP complex catalyzes codimerization of alkenes bearing no alpha-hydrogen and electron-deficient internal alkynes, leading to 1,3-dienes in good yields with moderate to excellent regio- and stereoselectivity. The same complex also catalyzes codimerization of an acrylate and phenyl-substituted electron-rich internal alkynes, leading to 1,3-dienes.