Palladium-catalyzed [3 + 3] cycloaddition of trimethylenemethane with azomethine imines

A palladium-catalyzed 3 + 3] cycloaddition of trimethylenemethane (TMM) with azomethine imines has been developed to produce hexahydropyridazine derivatives under simple and mild conditions. The use of substituted TMM precursors highlights the difference of this system from previously reported 3 + 2] cycloaddition of TMMs under palladium catalysis. The present 3 + 3] cycloaddition reactions are also applicable to couplings with nitrones.