Fe-Catalyzed Cycloisomerization of Aryl Allenyl Ketones: Access to 3-Arylidene-indan-1-ones.

A cycloisomerization of aryl allenyl ketones to 3-arylidene-indan-1-ones using a cationic Fe-complex as a catalyst is reported. The catalyst opens a synthetically interesting reaction pathway to this surprisingly underrepresented class of indanones that are not accessible using alternative catalytic systems.