Palladium-catalysed alkenyl and carbonylative C-C bond activation of cyclobutanones.

A palladium catalysed C-C bond activation of cyclobutanones for the construction of alkenyl and carbonylated indanones has been developed. The in situ generated σ-alkylpalladium intermediate VIA C-C bond cleavage of cyclobutanone could be trapped with N-tosylhydrazones and carbon monoxide, respectively. The reactions were carried out under mild conditions with excellent functional group tolerance.