Pd(II)-catalyzed One-step Construction of Cycloalkane-fused Indoles and Its Application in Formal Synthesis of (±)-aspidospermidine

A highly efficient, redox-free Pd(II)-catalyzed tandem cyclization reaction initiated by intramolecular aminopalladation of alkynes followed by nucleophilic addition to nitriles is developed. This method provides a versatile approach for the synthesis of six- to eight-membered ring-fused indoles in one step and has also shown advantages in the formal synthesis of (±)-aspidospermidine.