A catalytic formal ene reaction between ketone-derived silyl enol ethers and terminal alkynes is described. This transformation is uniquely capable of bimolecular assembly of 2-siloxy-1,4-dienes and can be used to access β,γ-unsaturated ketones containing quaternary carbons in the α-position.

A synthetic approach to paxilline indole diterpenes is described. The route to the pentacyclic core relies on a new regioselective alkenylation of ketones and a tandem radical addition–aldol reaction sequence to access vicinal quaternary stereocenters. Emindole SB, the simplest member of the family, is synthesized in 11 steps from commercially available material to demonstrate the application of this approach.