Direct synthesis of 1,3-diketones by Rh-catalyzed reductive alpha-acylation of enones.

1,3-Diketones were synthesized from alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones by treatment with acid chlorides and Et(2)Zn in the presence of RhCl(PPh(3))3. This is a very simple and extremely chemoselective reaction to give the adduct at the alpha-position of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones.