Insertion of benzyne into the Pd-C bond. Synthesis of unnatural amino acid derivatives by sequential insertion of benzyne and CO: 2,2'-functionalized biaryls containing alkylamino and carboxymethyl substituents. Isolation of stable carbopalladated-benzyne intermediates.

Reaction of ortho-palladated derivatives of phentermine and homoveratrylamine with benzyne allows the synthesis of enlarged eight-membered palladacycles resulting from the insertion of the aryne into the Pd-C bond, which subsequently react with CO, to render unnatural amino acid derivatives.