Thianthrenation-Enabled α-Arylation of Carbonyl Compounds with Arenes.

The Pd-catalyzed α-arylation of carbonyl compounds with simple arenes enabled by site-selective thianthrenation has been demonstrated. This one-pot process using thianthrenium salts as the traceless arylating reagents features mild conditions and a broad substrate scope. In addition, this protocol could also tolerate the heterocyclic carbonyl compounds and complex bioactive molecules, which is appealing for medicinal chemistry.

para-Selective arylation and alkenylation of monosubstituted arenes using thianthrene S-oxide as a transient mediator.

Using thianthrene S-oxide (TTSO) as a transient mediator, para-arylation and alkenylation of mono-substituted arenes have been demonstrated via a para-selective thianthrenation/Pd-catalyzed thio-Suzuki-Miyaura coupling sequence under mild conditions. This reaction features a broad substrate scope, and functional group and heterocycle tolerance. The versatility of this approach was further demonstrated by late-stage functionalization of complex bioactive scaffolds, and direct synthesis of some pharmaceuticals, including Tetriprofen, Ibuprofen, Bifonazole, and LJ570.