Palladium-catalyzed coupling of N-tosylhydrazones and β-bromostyrene derivatives: new approach to 2H-chromenes.

2H-Chromene is an important structural motif that exists in natural products and non-natural compounds possessing interesting biological activities. In this investigation, a highly efficient approach toward 2H-chromenes has been developed based on palladium-catalyzed coupling of N-tosylhydrazones and β-bromostyrenes. The mechanism of this reaction is proposed that involves the formation of vinyl palladium by carbene migratory insertion and the intramolecular nucleophilic substitution.