Palladium catalyst activates aromatics.

Reports that Japanese researcher Yuzo Fujiwara and his colleagues have identified an efficient catalytic method for regio-selectively adding aromatic compounds to acetylenes. Use of palladium as catalyst; Production of cis alkenes; Capability of methyl-furane, pyrroles and indoles to undergo the same reaction in acetic acid; High yield of a coumarin from intramolecular reaction.