Palladium mediated domino heck redox cyclization of aromatic homoallylic alcohols to methylindanones

3-Methyl indanones are key synthetic building blocks for a variety of natural and useful synthetic compounds. Their synthesis is exceedingly difficult. Herein, we described a palladium (II) mediated intramolecular one-pot redox-relay cyclization of aromatic homoallylic alcohols to cyclic keto compounds. This catalytic system enabled direct conversion of homoallylic alcohols to corresponding indanones (3-methyl-1-indanones). Homoallylic alcohols were synthesized by reacting allyl magnesium bromide with corresponding aromatic aldehydes. The optimized reaction yielded up to 88% 3-methylindanones. Our findings enabled us to device a plausible mechanism for this one pot reaction.