Transition metal-free oxidative ortho-acylation of phenols with N-heteroarylmethanes via double C–H activation

Abstract

The direct oxidative acylation of phenols with <italic>N</italic>-heteroarylmethanes <italic>via</italic> sp³C–H and sp²C–H double activation was achieved under metal-free conditions. The reaction proceeds in a facile I₂/DMSO/O₂ system regio-selectively to produce valuable (2-hydroxyphenyl)arylmethanones. A plausible mechanism was proposed.