ISSN 1017-2548(Print)
ISSN 2234-8530(Online)
Volume 47, Number 3
JKCSEZ 47(3)
June 20, 2003 

Butenolides are prepared from cyclobutenediones when cyclobutenediones are treated with lithium trimethylsilylacetylene, and quenched with water. A plausible mechanism, which contains an allene as an intermediate, is proposed. The usual diradical intermediate may not be formed because of the bulkiness of trimethylsilyl group, and the allenic intermediate may be stabilized by the α-silyl group.