RhH(PPh3)4, 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe), and dimethyl disulfide, ketones without α-activating groups were α-methylthiolated with 1,2-diphenyl-2-methylthio-1-ethanone giving α-methylthio ketones. The reaction of unsymmetrical ketones proceeded at the more substituted carbons. The initial formation of kinetic α-methylthiolated products followed by their rearrangement to thermodynamic products was
The reaction of silyl-substituted carbanion 1b with arene-1,2-dicarboxylates 6, 15 yields indenone derivatives 11, 16 in a domino process involving silyl C→O migration and elimination. However, in a competing pathway, the initial addition of 1b leads to lactone formation (8, 17). Substrates 26, 38 containing an ester group and a bromine substituent react with 1b under substitution of the halogen not