Copper(II) triflate-catalyzed direct arylation for synthesis of biphenyls using diaryliodonium salts as arylating reagents

Abstract

An efficient synthesis of biphenyls was developed by a Cu(OTf)2-catalyzed direct arylation between an electron-rich arene and a diaryliodonium salt. The reaction went through a modified Friedel–Crafts reaction mechanism, in which Cu(OTf)2 served as both Lewis-acid catalyst and transition-metal catalyst to generate the aryl carbocation from the corresponding diaryliodonium salt.