A novel PdCl2-catalyzed oxidative cycloisomerization of 3-cyclopropylideneprop-2-en-1-ones, providing a facile synthesis of highly strained functionalized 2-alkylidenecyclobutanones via furan-fused cyclobutene intermediates, is reported. An interesting route to 2(3H)-furanones with a spiro-cyclopropane unit from the obtained 2-alkylidenecyclobutanones via a ring-contraction rearrangement reaction is
Silver-Catalyzed Tandem Cycloisomerization/[5 + 2] Cycloaddition of 3-Cyclopropylideneprop-2-en-1-ones with Oxidopyrylium Ylides to Form Bibridged Benzocycloheptanones
cycloisomerization/[5 + 2] cycloaddition reactions between readily accessible cyclopropyl-tethered allenyl ketones and benzopyranone-derived oxidopyrylium ylides. The reactions proceed via a cyclobutene-fused furan intermediate generated in situ by a cycloisomerization/1,2-carbene transfer/ring-expansion cascade. This method, which features an unprecedented formal [5 + 2] cycloaddition, delivers good to