Abstract An efficient 1, 4-addition of Me 3 SiCN to aromatic enones has been achieved with excellent yields (91%–99%) using CsF (1 mol%) as the catalyst and H 2 O (4 equiv.) as the additive in refluxing dioxane within 7 h. The perfect regioselectivity is proposed accounting from H 2 O-facilitated reversion of the 1, 2-adduct in the presence of CsF and subsequent irreversible 1, 4-addition reaction.
