Cycloisomerization of 1,6-Enynes Using Acetate as a Nucleophile under Palladium(II) Catalysis

An efficient method for the synthesis of five-membered carbo- and heterocyclic compounds, including fused rings, was reported using acetate as a nucleophile in the cyclization of 1,6-enynes under palladium(II) catalysis. The reaction is initiated by trans-acetoxypalladation of the alkynes and quenched by either trans- or cis-deacetoxypalladation in the presence of 2,2‘-bipyridine as the ligand. An example of the catalytic asymmetric cyclization is presented with moderate enantioselectivity using chiral bisoxazoline ligand.