Highly efficient catalytic synthesis of substituted allenes using indium.

Abstract

Versatile, convenient, mild: Allenylindium intermediates generated from the reaction of indium with propargyl bromides were employed as effective coupling partners in Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions with a variety of electrophiles to produce allenes, polyallenes, and unsymmetrical bis(allenes) in excellent yields with complete regioselectivity and chemoselectivity (see scheme for one example).