An Atom-Economical Access to β-Heteroarylated Ketones from Propargylic Alcohols via Tandem Ruthenium/Indium Catalysis

The direct and chemoselective synthesis of beta-heteroarylated ketones from secondary propargyl alcohols through tandem Ru/In catalysis is reported. Both electron-rich and neutral heteroarenes, such as furans and indoles, efficiently undergo the redox isomerization/conjugate addition (RICA) sequence to provide the corresponding adducts in yields of up to 97%.