Palladium‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Substituted Cycloheptane‐1,4‐diones by an Asymmetric Ring‐Expanding Allylation (AREA)

Abstract

The right AREA: Functionalized, seven- and eight-membered carbocycles are available from an asymmetric Pd-catalyzed decarboxylative fragmentation of strained bicyclo[3.2.0]heptane-2-ones (see scheme, dba=trans,trans-dibenzylideneacetone). The products were formed in a sequence of [2+2] cycloaddition, retro-aldol reaction, and asymmetric allylation of ketone enolates.