Visible-light-induced palladium-catalyzed formal [3 + 3] cyclization of 2-iodophenols and cyclopropenes

Abstract

A visible-light-induced palladium-catalyzed formal [3 + 3] cyclization of 2-iodophenols and cyclopropenes is presented. This protocol provides a facile approach for the synthesis of 2,2-disubstituted 2H-chromenes with a quaternary carbon center in moderate to good yields. A catalytic cycle involving an aryl radical addition and an intramolecular palladium-catalyzed C–O coupling is proposed for this transformation.