C–H/C–H Aromative carbonylation of diarylalkynes enabled palladium-catalyzed by 6-endo-dig carbocyclization

Transition metal-catalyzed cycloaromatization reactions of diarylalkynes offer a swift and versatile approach to synthesizing a wide array of polycyclic aromatic compounds. However, the specific mechanism of Pd-catalyzed C–H/C–H aromative carbonylation of diarylalkynes, particularly those bearing adjacent functional groups, remains a relatively unexplored area. Herein, we present a palladium-catalyzed C–H/C–H aromative carbonylation of diarylalkynes, which proceeds through an exclusive 6-endo-dig carbocyclization pathway, followed by the incorporation of CO to yield carbonyl compounds. This methodology provides a novel and efficient route for generating complex aromatic structures, thus expanding the potential applications in organic synthesis.