Iron-Catalyzed Regio- and Stereoselective C-H Alkenylation of Pivalophenone Derivatives with Unsymmetric Internal Alkynes.

Here we report an ortho-C-H alkenylation of aromatic ketones with unsymmetric internal alkynes catalyzed by an iron phosphine complex, Fe(PMe3)4. The use of a catalytic amount of PtBu3 as an additive was found to improve the product yields. The alkenylation proceeds regio- and stereoselectively to give the corresponding styrene derivatives.