Multicatalytic Synthesis of α-Pyrrolidinyl Ketones via a Tandem Palladium(II)/Indium(III)-Catalyzed Aminochlorocarbonylation/Friedel-Crafts Acylation Reaction

An oxidative carbonylation reaction that generates acid chloride functionality has been developed. Furthermore, this aminochlorocarbonylation reaction has been merged with a catalytic Friedel-Crafts acylation to produce a highly efficient tandem multicatalytic synthesis of pyrrolidinyl ketones. Significant variation of the aromatic nucleophile and substrate are shown. Two examples of incorporation of this method in triple-catalytic sequences are also demonstrated.