Palladium-promoted Cyclization of Tetra-alkylated 1-Arylazonaphthalenes to 2-Aryl-benzo[g]indazoles

1-Arylazonaphthalenes with all the potential cyclopalladation sites (one peri- and three ortho-positions) substituted by methyl or ethyl groups react with stoicheiometric or catalytic amounts of sodium tetrachloropalladate(II) to the corresponding 2-arylbenzog]indazoles. Possible mechanisms for the catalytic cyclization reaction are proposed.