Cyclization of bis(acylsilanes) under nucleophilic activation. Competitive [1,2] carbone to oxygen and [1,4] oxygen to oxygen silyl migration

Cyclization of 1,5- and 1,6-bis(acylsilanes) with potassium cyanide gave new silylated cycloalcanones via a multistep sequence combining nucleophilic addition, two silyl migrations and β-elimination. The nature of the products is very dependent on the competition between [1,2] carbon to oxygen and [1,4] oxygen to oxygen silyl migration.