A Brønsted Acid Catalyzed Easy Access to Conjugated Diene-­Diones from Tertiary Propargyl Alcohols and 1,3-Dicarbonyl ­Compounds

A simple protocol catalyzed by a Brønsted acid, trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (CF3SO3H), to synthesize conjugated diene-diones from easily accessible tertiary propargyl alcohols and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds is described. Reactions are performed in an air atmosphere by using undried solvents with water being the environmentally benign side product of the process. Preliminary synthetic applications of the conjugated diene-diones in the formation of conjugated dieneones and furans are also reported herein.