Regioselective 5-endo-dig Electrophilic Iodocyclization of Enediynes: A Convenient Route to Iodo-substituted Indenes and Cyclopenta-Fused Arenes

An efficient iodine-mediated regioselective tandem approach for the synthesis of symmetric and asymmetric iodo-substituted indenes and stereoselective cyclopenta [b]pyridine/thiophenes from easily accessible enediynes that proceeds by in situ formation of an iodonium intermediate followed by a regioselective 5-endo-dig cyclization has been described. The intramolecular electrophilic iodocyclization was selectively triggered by a distribution of electronic density along the alkyne bond. Subsequently, the iodo-substituted indenes were diversified by employing palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions and the coupled products were further confirmed by X-ray crystallographic studies.