Reaction of alkynyllithium with zirconocene dichloride in the presence of quinones afforded zirconoenediynes in good yields. Treatment of the zirconoenediyne with p-chloranil in the presence of CuCl afforded 1, 1, 4, 4-tetraethynyl-1, 3-diene in good yield. In the presence of CuCl and/or Pd (PPh3) 4, the zirconoenediynes could be transformed into various enediyne derivatives through coupling reaction with electrophiles.
