Synthesis of annulated 2H-indazoles and 1,2,3- and 1,2,4-triazoles via a one-pot palladium-catalyzed alkylation/direct arylation reaction.

A variety of six-membered-ring annulated 2H-indazoles and 1,2,3- and 1,2,4-triazoles were synthesized in good to excellent yields from the corresponding bromoethyl azoles and aryl iodides. The annulation process involves a one-pot norbornene-mediated palladium-catalyzed sequence whereby an alkyl-aryl bond and an aryl-heteroaryl bond are successively formed through two C-H bond activations. Subsequent functionalizations of the resulting polycyclic through cross-coupling reactions are also presented.