The rhodium(I)-catalyzed reaction of alkynes with arylboronic acids in the presence of formaldehyde resulted in a carbon monoxide gas-free carbonylative arylation to yield α,β-enones. The simultaneous loading of phosphine-ligated and phosphine-free rhodium(I) complexes is required for efficient catalysis, which catalyze the abstraction of a carbonyl moiety from formaldehyde (decarbonylation) and its
Alkynes react with organoborons under a CO atmosphere in the presence of a rhodium(I) catalyst to afford mainly 5-aryl-2(5H)-furanones, α,β-unsaturated ketones, and indanones. The product selectivity can be tuned by modifying the reaction conditions.