“…Perhaps more critically, methods to efficiently and reliably prepare the requisite functionalized cyclopentenones ( 14 ) are lacking. Indeed, while cyclopentenones can be prepared by a number of different pathways, including metalation chemistry,6 Michael additions/reoxidations,7 metal cyclizations/Conia ene chemistry,8 and Nazarov cyclizations,9 general, mild, and step‐economic processes have not been demonstrated for many variants of the types desired as broadly defined by R within 14 . Herein, we detail a simple, two‐step solution capable of affording structurally diverse cyclopentenones.…”