Rhenium complex-catalyzed coupling reaction of enol acetates with alcohols

The reaction of enol acetates with alcohols in the presence of a catalytic amount of a rhenium complex, such as ReBr(CO)5, produced the corresponding ketones and aldehydes in moderate to good yields. It was suggested that the preparation of an ether, an intermolecular dehydrated product, was the first step of the reaction.