One-Step Palladium-Catalyzed Heterocyclic Ring Closure of Benzofurans with Aryl Iodides through a Heck-Type Pathway

An operationally simple and robust method for the direct arylation and ring closure of benzofurans is reported. Besides the mild conditions and good reaction yields, the methodology is applicable for a wide range of derivatives using commercially available aryl iodides with complete C2 regioselectivity. The reaction is proposed to follow a Heck-type oxyarylation mechanism. The facile synthesis method will enable the development of new materials for diverse applications in biology and catalysis and as precursors for organic semiconductors.