Allenes and transition metals: a diverging approach to heterocycles

[reaction: see text] An alkynyl allene has been converted to heterocycles possessing an alpha-alkylidene cyclopentenone, a 4-alkylidene cyclopentenone, or a cross-conjugated triene. Thus, a common intermediate has been converted to three structurally unique compounds by changing only the reaction conditions and, therefore, controlling various reaction pathways.