Pd(0)-catalyzed CO gas-free carbonylation of 2-bromobiphenyls with formaldehyde as a carbonyl surrogate through the cleavage of a CH bond

Abstract

Paraformaldehyde serves as a carbonyl source in the Pdcatalyzed cyclocarbonylation of 2-bromobiphenyls through the cleavage of a CH bond to afford good yields of fluoren-9-one derivatives. This protocol is also applicable to the reaction of β-bromostyrene, leading to the construction of an indenone framework.