Effective one-pot synthesis of 2,3-dialkyl-1,4-dicyclopropyl-butane-1,4-diones catalyzed by Cp2TiCl2

2,3-Dialkyl-l,4-dicyclopropylbutane-1,4-diones were prepared in one pot from symmetrical acetylenes, ethylaluminum dichloride and methyl cyclopropanecarboxylate in the presence of magnesium metal and Cp₂TiCl₂ (10 mol%) as a catalyst in 62–66% yield. Comparison of 1,4-dicyclopropylbutane-1,4-diones with other analogues to form furans in the course of the Paal–Knorr reaction was made by quantum chemical DFT calculations.