Rhodium-Catalyzed Cross-Cyclotrimerization and Dimerization of Allenes with Alkynes

It has been established that a cationic rhodium(I)/binap complex catalyzes the cross-cyclotrimerization of two molecules of a monosubstituted allene with one molecule of a functionalized alkyne to give 3,6-dialkylidenecyclohex-1-enes. In contrast, the reactions involving di- or trisubstituted allenes and/or unfunctionalized alkynes afforded cross-dimerization products, substituted dendralenes, through beta-hydrogen elimination from the corresponding rhodacycles.