Direct β-acylation of 2-arylidene-1,3-indandiones with acyl chlorides catalyzed by organophosphanes

We have developed an organophosphane-catalyzed direct β-acylation of a series of conjugated systems bearing ketone, amide and ester functionalities using acyl chlorides as trapping reagents. A wide variety of highly functional ketone derivatives were generated efficiently under very mild conditions with high yields according to our protocol. Our adducts can even be utilized as important building blocks for the synthesis of functional tri/tetracyclic pyridazine derivatives.