Rhodium-catalyzed oxidative alkynylation of acrylate esters with propargylic alcohols

Oxidative alkynylation of acrylate esters with propargylic alcohols giving conjugated enyne esters was realized by use of a diene–rhodium catalyst. Propargylic alcohols were found to be useful alkynylating reagents in the present reaction to produce alkynylrhodium species via carbon–carbon bond cleavage. An excess of the acrylate ester worked as a hydride acceptor to reproduce the active rhodium species.