Highly efficient [2 + 2] intramolecular cyclizations of allenynes under microwave irradiation: construction of fused bicyclic compounds.

A palladium [2 + 2] cycloaddition of 1,6- and 1,7-allenyne carboxylates and microwave-mediated [2 + 2] cycloaddition of various 1,n-allenynes were developed and, particularly, the microwave irradiated [2 + 2] cycloaddition of allenynes can provide a simple, general and eco-friendly synthetic method to fused bicyclo[m,2,0]alkadienes.