Palladium-catalyzed cyclocarbonylation of arynes with methyl allyl carbonates: selective synthesis of 1H-inden-1-ones

A selective protocol for the synthesis of 2-methylene-3-substituted-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-ones and 2-benzylidene-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-ones has been developed via palladium-catalyzed cyclocarbonylation reactions of arynes with allyl carbonates and carbon monooxide (CO). It is noteworthy that the selectivity of this new route is depended on both substrates and ligands.