Palladium catalyzed multicomponent reactions in ordered sequence: new syntheses of o,o′-dialkylsubstituted diarylacetylenes and diarylalkylidenehexahydromethanofluorenes

Catalytic one-pot reactions of aromatic iodides with alkyl halides, phenylacetylene or diphenylacetylene, potassium acetate or carbonate, norbornene and palladium acetate in DMF or DMA are reported. A high selectivity towards dialkylsubstituted diarylacetylenes and diarylalkylidenehexahydromethanofluorenes, respectively, has been reached.