Synthesis of 5,5-disubstituted butenolides based on a Pd-catalyzed gamma-arylation strategy.

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Methods for the construction of quaternary carbon centers are of great interest to synthetic chemists due to their presence in natural products. Development of the Pd-catalyzed arylation of butenolides with high selectivity for the gamma-position allows for a facile construction of quaternary centers. The preparation of a wide variety of gamma-aryl butenolides containing a number of functional groups is outlined. An application of this chemistry for a one-pot synthesis of a tricyclic tetrahydroisoquinolinone is demonstrated.