Synthesis of 2-alkylidenecyclopentanones via palladium-catalyzed carbopalladation/ring expansion of 1-(1-alkynyl)cyclobutanols

The palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl halides or vinylic halides or triflates and 1-(1-alkynyl)cyclobutanols affords good yields of stereoisomerically pure 2-arylidene- or 2-(2-alkenylidene)cyclopentanones, respectively. The process involves (1) oxidative addition of the organic halide or triflate to Pd(0), (2) regioselective, intermolecular carbopalladation of the carbon-carbon triple bond of the 1-(1-alkynyl)cyclobutanol to produce a vinylic palladium intermediate, (3) regioselective ring expansion to a palladacycle, and (4) reductive elimination of the 2-alkylidenecyclopentanone with simultaneous regeneration of the Pd(0) catalyst. Generally, the best results are obtained by employing 10 mol % of Pd(OAc)(2), 20 mol % of PPh3, 2 equiv of the aryl or vinylic iodide or vinylic triflate, 2 equiv of diisopropylethylamine, and n-BU4NCI in DMF as the solvent.