Abstract:
o-Iodoaryl aldehydes react with bicyclic alkenes in the presence of NiBr2(dppe) and Zn powder in acetonitrile at 80 °C undergoing annulation to give polycyclic ketone derivatives. Surprisingly, o-iodoaryl alkyl ketones also react with bicyclic alkenes to form polycyclic ketones with structures the same as those from the corresponding o-iodoaryl aldehydes.