FeCl ₃ ‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Ynones from Silylated Alkynes and Acetic Anhydride

The reaction of silylated alkynes with acid chlorides in the presence of Lewis acids, first described by Birkhofer in 1963, has since emerged as a valuable method for the synthesis of alkynones. Despite its broad synthetic utility, the original protocol suffers from notable drawbacks, including the use of toxic solvents, stoichiometric Lewis acids, and corrosive acylating agents. In light of growing environmental concerns, a more sustainable alternative is developed. Herein, catalytic amounts of iron(III) chloride in combination with biodegradable acetic anhydride enable the efficient synthesis of alkynones under mild conditions.