Zinc-gold cooperative catalysis for the direct alkynylation of benzofurans.
The direct alkynylation of benzofurans was achieved for the first time using the hypervalent iodine reagent 1-[(triisopropylsilyl)ethynyl]-1,2-benziodoxol-3(1H)-one (TIPS-EBX) based on the cooperative effect between a gold catalyst and a zinc Lewis acid. High selectivity was observed for C2-alkynylation of benzofurans substituted with alkyl, aryl, halogen and ether groups. The reaction was also successful in the case of the more complex drug 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP).
Laboratory of Catalysis and Organic Synthesis, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL SB ISIC LCSO, BCH4306, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
Yifan
Y
Li
Jérôme
J
Waser
alkynylation; benzofurans; cooperative catalysis; direct functionalization; gold catalysis; hypervalent iodine