Reductive conjugate addition of haloalkanes to enones to form silyl enol ethers.

A new method is presented for tandem reductive conjugate addition and silyl enol ether formation from cyclic and acyclic enones and enals in the presence of a Mn reductant, a Ni(terpyridine) catalyst, and a trialkylchlorosilane. The addition of secondary, tertiary, and hindered primary haloalkanes is demonstrated. Preliminary studies on the mechanism show that the intermediacy of L1(Ni)(η(3)-1-triethylsilyloxyalkenyl)X or in-situ-formed RMnX is unlikely.