Phosphine-Free and Reusable Palladium Nanoparticles-Catalyzed Domino Strategy: Synthesis of Indanone Derivatives

The carbene migratory insertion involving a domino reaction by highly stable, reusable, and binaphthyl-stabilized Pd-nanoparticles (Pd-BNP) is disclosed. The reaction was catalyzed by 2 mol % of a heterogeneous Pd-BNP catalyst under external ligand-free conditions, and it afforded 3-aryl-substituted indanone derivatives in up to a 90% yield with exclusive E-selectivity. Furthermore, a one-pot reaction and derivatization of indanone derivatives were also successfully demonstrated.