Tuning radical reactivity using iodine in oxidative C(sp³)–H/C(sp)–H cross-coupling: an easy way toward the synthesis of furans and indolizines

Abstract

Molecular iodine was found to be an effective redox catalyst for the oxidative cross-coupling of carbonyl compounds with terminal alkynes. In this work, we demonstrated that iodine could tune radical reactivity through reversible C-I bond formation for controlling the reaction selectivity. This iodine catalysis protocol provided an easy way for the synthesis of various furans and indolizines.