Cyclization of η3-benzylpalladium intermediates derived from carbene insertion.

Migratory insertion of benzylidene carbene I ligands into arylpalladium(II) species generates eta(3)-benzylpalladium intermediates that can cyclize to generate five- and six-membered rings with new sp(3) centers. The reaction tolerates a 1 range of arene functional groups and stabilized enolates. The products generated through this reaction are 1-arylindanes and 1-aryltetralins that are common to a range of natural products.