γ-Halo-enones: a method for their synthesis from arylacyl halides and their application to the preparation of five-membered ring heterocycles.

A simple method has been developed for synthesis of γ-halo-enones. The approach employs a sequence involving initial indium-mediated allenylation reactions of phenacyl halides with propargyl bromide. This process is followed by acid-promoted rearrangement reactions of the formed homoallenic halohydrins. The new method can be incorporated into routes for the efficient synthesis of various five-membered heterocyclic compounds.