Directing Group Assisted Copper-Catalyzed Chemoselective <i>O</i>-Aroylation of Phenols and Enols Using Alkylbenzenes

Abstract

By using alkylbenzenes as aroyl surrogates, copper(II) catalyzed chemoselective O-aroylations of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and phenolic −OH ortho to carbonyl (−CHO, −COR) groups have been achieved. A dual mechanism operating in tandem for these transformations has been supported by a crossover experiment.