Synthesis of Fluorenones from Aromatic Aldoxime Ethers and Aryl Halides by Palladium‐Catalyzed Dual CH Activation and Heck Cyclization

Abstract

Highway to Heck: An efficient new one-pot palladium-catalyzed synthesis is described which affords a wide range of 9-fluorenone derivatives in good to excellent yields. A mechanism for the two distinct catalytic steps, CH bond activation followed by oxidative intramolecular Heck cyclization, is proposed and reaction intermediates supporting this mechanism have been isolated.