Triphenylphosphine-catalysed one-pot synthesis of γ-butyrolactone derivatives and highly substituted enones via reaction of dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate and aryl aldehydes

The reaction between dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate and various aryl aldehydes in the presence of triphenylphosphine leads to unsaturated γ-butyrolactone derivatives and highly substituted enones in fairly good yields at room temperature.