Iridium-catalyzed annulation of N-arylcarbamoyl chlorides with internal alkynes.

An iridium complex successfully catalyzed the annulation of various N-arylcarbamoyl chlorides with internal alkynes to afford 2-quinolones in good to excellent yields. The present reaction is widely applicable to substrates with various functionalities. An amide-iridacycle complex was isolated, and it is likely that such an iridacycle species is a key intermediate in the catalytic reaction.