Synthesis of carbo- and heterocycles via palladium catalysed cascade allene insertion–nucleophile incorporation–Michael addition processes

Novel palladium catalysed two- and three-component thermal (conventional heating and microwave) cascade processes are described involving allenylation of an aryl iodide to generate a (π-allyl)palladium species, which are intercepted (inter- or intramolecularly) by a carbon or nitrogen nucleophile followed by intramolecular Michael addition to afford carbo- and heterocycles in good yields.