Palladium-Catalyzed Access to Benzocyclobutenone-Derived Ketonitrones via C(sp 2 )-H Functionalization.

The palladium-catalyzed C(sp 2 )-H functionalization of bromoaryl aldonitrones leading to benzocyclobutenone-derived ketonitrones is described. This method allows for the preparation of a wide range of strained, four-membered ketonitrones with broad functional group tolerance. Downstream transformations of the formed products were readily demonstrated, illustrating the synthetic utility of the obtained benzocyclobutenone-derived nitrones for the construction of polycyclic nitrogen-containing scaffolds.