Rhodium(I)-catalyzed carbonylative arylation of alkynes with arylboronic acids using formaldehyde as a carbonyl source

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 subsequent introduction into the substrate (carbonylation), respectively.