Regio- and stereoselective generation of alkenylindium compounds from indium tribromide, alkynes, and ketene silyl acetals.

InBr(3) promotes the addition of ketene silyl acetals to monosubstituted alkynes to afford 2,2-disubstituted alkenylindium compounds in high regio- and stereoselectivity (see scheme). In addition, the alkenylindium derivatives have been subsequently coupled with iodobenzene in the presence of a palladium catalyst.