Palladium-Catalyzed Tandem Carbocyclization and Hetroarylation for the Synthesis of 2‑(Trifluoromethyl)indenylmethyleneindoles

A palladium-catalyzed tandem cyclization and cross-coupling reaction of o-(2-chlorovinyl)­alkynylbenzenes with indoles/pyrroles is developed. The process proceeds via intramolecular carbocyclization and subsequent hetroarylation to afford previously unknown trifluoromethyl-containing indenylmethyleneindoles, which are potentially useful in drug design.