Intramolecular Ynamide–Benzyne (3+2) Cycloadditions

We report herein intramolecular (3+2) cycloaddition reactions between ynamides as three-atom components and benzyne. In these intramolecular reactions, the two-bond formation is realized by exploiting benzyne precursors that contain a chlorosilyl group as a linking functionality. This method thus highlights the ambivalent character of the intermediate indolium ylide, which exhibits both nucleophilic and electrophilic properties at its C2 atom.