Stereoselective Synthesis of β‐Chlorovinyl Ketones and Arenes by the Catalytic Addition of Acid Chlorides to Alkynes

New cats, new tricks: Complementary iridium catalysts enable the Z-selective catalytic addition of acid chlorides to alkynes. Depending on the ligand, the reaction proceeds with or without decarbonylation to give β-chlorovinyl-substituted arenes or ketones: useful intermediates for the synthesis of heterocycles. cod=cyclooctadiene, IPr=1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene), RuPhos=2-dicyclohexylphosphanyl-2′,6′-diisopropoxy-1,1′-biphenyl.