Palladium-Catalyzed Iodine-Mediated Electrophilic Annulation of 2-(1-Alkynyl)biphenyls with Disulfides

Abstract

A palladium-catalyzed, iodine-mediated electrophilic annulation between 2-(1-alkynyl)biphenyl and disulfide has been developed. With the combination of PdCl(2) and I(2), a variety of 2-(1-alkynyl)biphenyls underwent electrophilic annulations with various disulfides successfully to afford the corresponding 9-sulfenyl phenanthrenes in moderate to excellent yields.