Intermolecular N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Catalyzed Hydroacylation of Arynes

Abstract

A formal introduction: The conceptually new N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed formal insertion of arynes into the CformylH bond of aldehydes demonstrates the compatibility of nucleophilic NHCs with electrophilic arynes. This NHC-catalyzed hydroacylation of arynes allows the conversion of aliphatic, α,β-unsaturated, and aromatic aldehydes into aryl ketones; 27 examples and a preliminary mechanistic investigation are provided.