Functionalization of Silyldienol Ethers at the γ-Position via 2-Silyloxypentadienyl Cations.

This report describes Brønsted acid catalyzed de novo synthesis of silyldienol ethers bearing tetrasubstituted double bonds via an intermediacy of 2-silyloxypentadienyl cations. The reactivity of these novel cationic intermediates could be modulated and harnessed toward direct nucleophilic additions regioselectively at the γ-position to produce highly functionalized silyldienol ethers with tunable control of the resulting double bond geometry.