A norbornene-mediated palladium-catalyzed sequence is described in which two alkyl-aryl
bonds and one alkenyl-aryl bond are formed in one pot. A variety of symmetrical and
unsymmetrical tricyclic heterocycles were synthesized in good yields from a Heck acceptor
and an aryl iodide containing two tethered alkyl bromides. This methodology was applied
to the synthesis of a tricyclic mescaline analogue.
palladium - annulations - Heck reaction - mescaline - microwave irradiation