Palladium-Catalyzed Intermolecular Exchange between C–C and C–Si σ-Bonds

A palladium-isocyanide complex opens the two four-membered rings of benzocyclobutenone and silacyclobutane to merge them into an eight-membered ring skeleton. The present reaction provides a unique example of an intermolecular cross metathesis-type reaction between covalent σ-bonds of low polarity.