Zirconium-alkyne complexes or zirconacyclopentenes, which were easily prepared in situ from alkynes, reacted with acrolein diethylacetal to afford vinyl ether derivatives. The C–C bond formation proceeded exclusively at β-position of the α, β-unsaturated acetal. Zirconium catalyzed C–C bond formation reactions of α, β-unsaturated acetals with EtMgBr also proceeded at β-position exclusively.
