Synthesis of All-Carbon Quaternary Centers by Palladium-Catalyzed Olefin Dicarbofunctionalization

The redox-neutral dicarbofunctionalization of tri- and tetrasubstituted olefins to form a variety of (hetero)cyclic compounds under photoinduced palladium catalysis is described. This cascade reaction process was used to couple styrenes or acryl amides with a broad range of highly decorated olefins tethered to aryl or alkyl bromides (>50 examples). This procedure enables one or two contiguous all-carbon quaternary centers to be formed in a single step. The products could be readily diversified and applied in the synthesis of a bioactive oxindole analogue.