We have established that a cationic rhodium(I)/H 8 -binap complex catalyzes [2+2+2] cycloadditions of a variety of 1,6-and 1,7-diynes with both electron-deficient and electron-rich carbonyl compounds, leading to dienones in high yield under mild reaction conditions. In the reactions with acyl phosphonates, the reactivity of 1,6-and 1,7-diynes was highly dependent on their own structures. The addition of chelating diethyl oxalate effectively promoted the [2+2+2] cycloadditions involving acyl phosphonates, presumably due to the