Copper-Catalyzed Intramolecular Tandem Reaction of (2-Halogenphenyl)(3-phenyloxiran-2-yl)methanones: Synthesis of (Z)-Aurones

A convenient and efficient method for the copper-catalyzed synthesis of (Z)-aurones via intramolecular tandem reaction of (2-halogenphenyl)(3-phenyloxiran-2-yl)methanones is reported. Moreover, a plausible mechanism for the formation of (Z)-aurones is proposed. This is the first report on the synthesis of (Z)-aurones through copper-catalyzed Ullmann coupling reaction employing epoxides as substrates.