Cross-coupling of dissimilar ketone enolates via enolonium species to afford non-symmetrical 1,4-diketones

Due to their closely matched reactivity, the coupling of two dissimilar ketone enolates to form a 1,4-diketone remains a challenge in organic synthesis. We herein report that umpolung of a ketone trimethylsilyl enol ether (1 equiv) to form a discrete enolonium species, followed by addition of as little as 1.2-1.4 equivalents of a second trimethylsilyl enol ether, provides an attractive solution to this problem. A wide array of enolates may be used to form the 1,4-diketone products in 38 to 74% yield. Due to the use of two TMS enol ethers as precursors, an optimization of the cross-coupling should include investigating the order of addition.