A novel route to biaryls via intramolecular free radical ipso substitution reactions

A variety of usefully functionalised biaryls may be prepared under neutral conditions by an intramolecular free radical ipso substitution reaction at an sp2 sulphonyl substituted carbon atom; the overall efficiency of the process being determined both by the nature and number of atoms linking the two aromatic rings and by appropriately positioned substituents on the aromatic aceeptor ring.