Synthesis of Cyclooctatetraenes through a Palladium-Catalyzed Cascade Reaction

Abstract

Reported is a cascade reaction leading to fully substituted cyclooctatetraenes. This unexpected transformation likely proceeds through a unique 8π electrocyclization reaction of a ene triyne. DFT computations provide the mechanistic basis of this surprizing reaction.

Keywords: alkenes; density functional calculations; electrocyclizations; palladium; reaction mechanisms.