Facile Synthesis of Polycyclic Fluorene Derivatives via a Palladium-Catalyzed Coupling, Propargyl-Allenyl Isomerization and Schmittel Cyclization Sequence

A stepwise process involving Sonogashira coupling, propargyl-allenyl isomerization and Schmittel cyclization has been realized, leading to an efficient synthesis of polycyclic fluorene derivatives from readily available starting materials. The reaction features the formation of three new carbon-carbon bonds to construct the benzene unit together with an efficient assembly of three or four rings in a single operative step.