Palladium-catalyzed cyclization of 1,6-enyne with 2-bromoarylaldehyde: domino sequence to [5-7-6] tricyclic ring systems

A domino sequence of cyclization of 1,6-enyne with 2-bromoarylaldehyde followed by the intramolecular Aldol-condensation has been realized in the presence of 5 mol % of palladium catalyst. This sequence provides a convenient protocol to access polycyclic ring systems with readily available starting materials under simple Pd(0)-catalyzed conditions. The intramolecular Aldol-condensation has been proposed as the key step for the catalytic cycle.