Catalyst-Controlled Annulations of Strained Cyclic Allenes with π-Allylpalladium Complexes

Strained cyclic allenes are a class of in situ-generated fleeting intermediates that, despite being discovered more than 50 years ago, has received significantly less attention from the synthetic community compared to related strained intermediates. Examples of trapping strained cyclic allenes that involve transition metal catalysis are especially rare. We report the first annulations of highly reactive cyclic allenes with in situ-generated π-allylpalladium species. By varying the ligand employed, either of two isomeric polycyclic scaffolds can be obtained with high selectivity. The products are heterocyclic and sp3-rich and bear two or three new stereocenters. This study should encourage the further development of fragment couplings that rely on transition metal catalysis and strained cyclic allenes for the rapid assembly of complex scaffolds.