Concise and stereoselective synthesis of enamides and dienamides by a titanium-mediated coupling method.

Ynamide-titanium alkoxide complexes underwent hydrolysis or addition to aldehydes and ketones to give single, stereodefined di- or trisubstituted enamides in good yields. Alternatively, coupling of a variety of alkyne-titanium alkoxide complexes with terminal ynamides generated amino-substituted titanacyclopentadienes, hydrolysis or aldehyde addition of which afforded stereodefined dienamides. [reaction--see text]