Expedient access to substituted 3-amino-2-cyclopentenones by dirhodium-catalyzed [3+2]-annulation of silylated ketene imines and enoldiazoacetates.

In a reaction that proceeds under mild conditions with remarkable functional group tolerance, structurally diverse 3-amino-2-cyclopentenones bearing a quaternary carbon at the 4-position have been synthesized through a formal [3+2]-cycloaddition reaction of silylated ketene imines (SKIs) and enoldiazoaceates by dirhodium catalysis.