Three-component Heck-Diels-Alder cascade processes involving alkylallenes, aryl iodides and dienophiles

A wide variety of aryl/heteroaryl iodides undergo an intermolecular Heck reaction with alkylallenes to furnish 1,3-dienes. These subsequently react in situ with various dienophiles to give Diels-Alder adducts. The chemistry has been extended to incorporate cyclisation-anion capture methodology and the stereochemistry of the products has been determined. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.