Chlorinative dimerization of terminal alkynes with trichloroacetyl chloride as chlorine donor proceeds in the presence of rhodium catalysts to give (Z,Z)-1,4-dichloro-1,3-butadienes stereoselectively. Ligand screening has revealed that reactions using sterically bulky and electron-donating ligands like trimesitylphosphine are high yielding. The reaction is compatible with a range of functional groups to give the title compounds nearly quantitatively in most cases. A mechanistic possibility involving coupling of beta-chloroalken-1-yl intermediate has been discussed.
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