Palladium-catalyzed direct intramolecular double α-C–H arylation of 1,5-diketone: a strategy for synthesis of Tröger’s base analogues

9-Aryl-2,3:6,7-dibenzobicyclo[3.3.1]nona-2,6-diene-4,8-diones were straightforwardly prepared via a tandem reaction of easily available ortho-chloroacetophenone and ortho-chlorochalcone catalyzed by PdCl2(PCy3)2.