Palladium-Catalyzed Cascade Cyclization/Dearomatization/Arylation of Alkyne-Containing Phenol-Based Biaryls with Aryl Halides: An Entry to Diversely Functionalized Spirocyclohexadienones.

A convenient method for the synthesis of aryl-functionalized spirocyclohexadienone scaffolds from alkyne-containing phenol-based biaryls with aryl halides via palladium-catalyzed cyclization/dearomatization/arylation is developed. The approach provides a series of spirocyclohexadienone molecules in moderate to high yields. The reaction occurs chemoselectively through dearomative C-arylation rather than common O-arylation of phenols.