Highly Regioselective Synthesis of 2,3-Disubstituted Indenes via a Novel Palladium-Catalyzed Cyclization Reaction of Propargylic Carbonates with Carbon Nucleophiles

Palladium-catalyzed reaction of propargylic carbonates with carbon nucleophiles offers an efficient, direct route to highly substituted indenes. The reaction conditions and the scope of the process are examined, and a possible mechanism is proposed.