Ruthenium(II)-Catalyzed Synthesis of Spirobenzofuranones by a Decarbonylative Annulation Reaction.

The first decarbonylative insertion of an alkyne through C-H/C-C activation of six-membered compounds is reported. The Ru-catalyzed reaction of 3-hydroxy-2-phenyl-chromones with alkynes works most efficiently in the presence of the ligand PPh to provide spiro-indenebenzofuranones. Unlike previously reported metal-catalyzed decarbonylative annulation reactions, in the present decarbonylative annulation reaction, the annulation occurs before extrusion of carbon monoxide.