ortho-Nitro-substituted diaryliodonium salts enabled regioselective cyclization of arylcarboxylic acids toward 3,4-naphthocoumarins

We herein report an efficient regioselective cascade of arylation and cyclization of arylcarboxylic acids via Pd( ii )-activation of both C–I and vicinal C–NO 2 bonds of ortho -nitro-substituted diaryliodonium salts.