Carbonyl−alkyne exchange reaction of 2,2-dimethyldihydropyran-4-thione-derived dienes with
acetylenic ketones leads to highly substituted aromatic sulfides. The reaction proceeds with a high
degree of regioselectivity and in good yields. Addition of Et2AlCl considerably increases the scope
of usable acetylenic ketones. The starting materials, dihydropyran-4-one and α-alkynyl ketone
derivatives, are readily available reactive building blocks. Additional diversity can be introduced
through straightforward derivatization reactions at the sulfur atom. The use of solid-supported
reagents and trapping agents allows the reaction to be carried out in a parallel format which might
render such a concept attractive for the synthesis of compound libraries.