Synthesis of 3-silyl-2(5H)-furanone by rhodium-catalyzed cyclocarbonylation

3-Silyl-2(5H)-furanones are readily formed by the rhodium-catalyzed cyclocarbonylation of propargyl alcohol derivatives bearing a trialkylsilyl group on the terminal sp-carbon under hydroformylation conditions. The following two requirements must be satisfied for the success of this protocol; (i) the presence of a silyl group on the sp-carbon, and (ii) the presence of a catalytic amount of Rh4(CO)12.