Palladium/Norbornene-Catalyzed Indenone Synthesis from Simple Aryl Iodides: Concise Syntheses of Pauciflorol F and Acredinone A.

To show the synthetic utility of palladium/norbornene (Pd/NBE) cooperative catalysis, here we report concise syntheses of indenone-based natural products, pauciflorol F and acredinone A, which are enabled by direct annulation between aryl iodides and unsaturated carboxylic acid anhydrides. Compared to the previous indenone-preparation approaches, this method allows simple aryl iodides to be used as substrates with complete control of the regioselectivity. The total synthesis of acredinone A features two different Pd/NBE-catalyzed ortho acylation reactions for constructing penta-substituted arene cores, including the development of a new ortho acylation/ipso borylation.