Tandem-type Pd(II)-catalyzed oxidative Heck reaction/intramolecular C-H amidation sequence: a novel route to 4-aryl-2-quinolinones

A novel catalytic method for synthesizing 4-aryl-2-quinolinones is reported. The process involves two mechanistically independent, sequential Pd(II)-catalyzed reactions-the oxidative Heck reaction and the intramolecular C-H amidation-both of which smoothly proceed in the presence of a single catalytic system in a one-pot manner.