(Trialkylsilyl)vinylketenes react with lithium ynolates to generate 3-(oxido)dienylketenes, which undergo rapid 6 pi-electrocyclization. The ultimate products of this benzannulation are highly substituted resorcinol monosilyl ethers, which are formed via a [1,3] carbon to oxygen silyl group shift. Further transformations of the benzannulation products are described providing efficient access to ortho-benzoquinones and benzofuran, benzoxepine, and benzoxocine ring systems. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.