Palladium-catalyzed synthesis of 9-fluorenylidenes through aryne annulation.

The palladium-catalyzed annulation of arynes by substituted o-halostyrenes produces substituted 9-fluorenylidenes in good yields. This methodology provides this important carbocyclic ring system in a single step, which involves the generation of two new carbon-carbon bonds, occurs under relatively mild reaction conditions, and tolerates a variety of functional groups, including cyano, ester, aldehyde, and ketone groups.