Synthesis of 1-indanols and 1-indanamines by intramolecular palladium(0)-catalyzed C(sp3)-H arylation: impact of conformational effects.

A range of valuable 1-indanols and 1-indanamines containing a tertiary C1 atom were synthesized by intramolecular palladium(0)-catalyzed C(sp(3))-H arylation, despite unfavorable steric interactions. The efficiency of the reaction was found to correlate with the degree of substitution at C2, as expected from the Thorpe-Ingold effect. Additionally, the nature of the heteroatomic substituent at C1 had a marked influence on the diastereoselectivity at C1 and C2; indeed, 1-indanols and 1-indanamines were obtained with the opposite relative configuration. Analysis of the X-ray and DFT-optimized structures of the corresponding reactive intermediates provided useful insights into the subtle conformational effects induced by these substituents.