Facile synthesis of symmetrical 3,3-diarylacrylates by a Heck-Matsuda reaction: an expedient route to biologically active indanones

A simple and straightforward synthesis of symmetrical 3,3-diarylacrylates based on a Heck-Matsuda reaction of arenediazonium salts bearing electron-donating groups with methylacrylates is described. The reaction employs Pd(OAc)2 as catalyst and goes to completion within 1 h affording the corresponding unsaturated diaryl esters in good to high yields. This method permitted the expeditious and efficient synthesis of the anticancer 3-arylindanone 5 in two operative steps in 43% overall yield.