Lewis acid catalyzed [2+2] cycloaddition of ynamides and propargyl silyl ethers: synthesis of alkylidenecyclobutenones and their reactivity in ring-opening and ring expansion

A family of four-membered enones, polysubstituted alkylidenecyclo-butenones, were easily prepared by a Lewis acid catalyzed [2+2] cycloaddition of ynamides and propargyl silyl ethers. This challenging regioselective [2+2] cycloaddition enables the efficient construction and conversion of four-membered enones, which provides high-value and structurally diverse products through the unexpected ring-opening and ring expansion of alkylidenecyclobutenone with Grignard reagents, organolithium, primary amines, and water.