Ru3(CO)12-Catalyzed Reaction of 1,6-Diynes, Carbon Monoxide, and Water via the Reductive Coupling of Carbon Monoxide.

We report the ruthenium-catalyzed cyclization of 1,6-diynes with two molecules of carbon monoxide and water to give a variety of catechols. This reaction likely proceeds through the intermediacy of the water-gas shift reaction to generate an yne-diol-type intermediate followed by a [4 + 2] cycloaddition with 1,6-diynes. The reaction requires no external reductants or hydride sources and provides a novel and valuable method for the synthesis of a variety of catechols.