Synthesis of Benzo-Fused Cycloheptanones from Cyclobutanol Derivatives by a C–C Cleavage/Cross-Coupling/Enolate Arylation Sequence

Herein, we describe a convergent method for the synthesis of benzo-fused cycloheptanones from cyclobutanol derivatives and 1,2-dihaloarene electrophiles. The inherent ring strain of the cyclobutanol coupling partner is leveraged to drive a Pd-catalyzed C-C cleavage/cross-coupling. A subsequent intramolecular enolate arylation results in the formation of the benzo-fused seven-membered carbocycle in a one-pot sequence. A range of electronically diverse 1,2-dihaloarene electrophiles as well as various substituted cyclobutanols were investigated as cross-coupling partners.