FeCl3-catalyzed nucleophilic substitution of propargylic acetates with enoxysilanes.

An efficient FeCl3-catalyzed substitution reaction of propargylic acetates with enoxysilanes under mild conditions to afford corresponding gamma-alkynyl ketones has been developed. The substitution reaction is followed by a TsOH-catalyzed cyclization without purification of the gamma-alkynyl ketone intermediates, offering a straightforward synthetic route to tri- or tetrasubstituted furans.