Deconjugative alkylation/Heck reaction as a simple platform for dihydronaphthalene synthesis

A simple platform for carbocycle synthesis by Knoevenagel adduct deconjugative alkylation/Heck reaction is described. Deconjugative alkylation of Knoevenagels adducts is two-fold synthetically enabling because C-C bond formation is (1) operationally simple due to the ease of Knoevenagel adduct carbanion generation and (2) results in alkene migration, which poises the substrate for cyclization. Furthermore, the gem-dinitrile moiety serves as a functional group for synthetic manipulation.