A general gold-catalyzed direct oxidative coupling of non-activated arenes

摘要

A gold-catalyzed mild and general oxidative homo-coupling of arenes using PhI(OAc)_2 as the oxidant is described (13 examples, 31-81% yield). Biaryls constitute an important structural component in natural products, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and materials. In recent decades there have been rapid advances in C(sp~2)-C(sp~2) bond formation reactions to construct biaryls. Traditionally, the arene being coupled needs to be 'pre-activated', such as by halogenation, prior to metal-mediated coupling reactions.