Silver-Catalyzed Domino Reaction of ortho-Carbonylated Alkynyl-Substituted Arylaldehydes with Conjugated Dienes: Stereoselective Access to Indanone-Fused Cyclohexenes.

A silver-catalyzed domino reaction of ortho-carbonylated alkynyl-substituted arylaldehydes with conjugated dienes is described here. Through this reaction, the synthesis of a variety of indanone-fused cyclohexene derivatives can be achieved efficiently. The formation of these tricyclic products could involve a key Diels-Alder reaction of in situ generated indanenone dienophiles with conjugated dienes. Particularly, the products can be accomplished in a high endo/exo selective way.