A Facile Route to Benzo[a]fluorenes via a Palladium-Catalyzed Reaction of 2-Alkynylbromobenzene with 2-(2-Alkynylphenyl)malonate

A palladium-catalyzed reaction of 2-alkynylbromobenzenes with 2-(2-alkynylphenyl)malonates gives rise to benzo[a]fluorenes in good yields. This tandem process is efficient with the formation of three bonds from easily available starting materials.