Synthesis of benzooxepane-fused cyclobutene derivatives via Pd-catalyzed cascade reactions of haloarenes and diynylic ethers

Abstract

A tandem palladium-catalyzed Sonogashira coupling, propargyl–allenyl isomerization, and [2+2] cycloaddition sequence between electron-deficient haloarenes and 1,8-diynylic ethers is developed. The reaction shows good functional tolerance and proceeds under mild conditions to provide a new profile of benzooxepane-fused cyclobutene derivatives in moderate to high yields with high selectivity. The reaction mechanism is validated both by experimental studies and DFT calculations.