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Synfacts 2007(4): 0358-0358  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-968376
Synthesis of Heterocycles
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Benzofurans via Pd(II)-Catalyzed Arylboronic Acid Addition to Nitriles

Contributor(s): Victor Snieckus, Oluwole Familoni
B. Zhao, X. Lu*
Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, P. R. of ChinA
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Publication History

Publication Date:
23 March 2007 (online)

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Significance

An unprecedented Pd-catalyzed addition of arylboronic acids to O-phenyl cyanohydrins to give benzofurans is described. Air-stable cationic Pd-complexes A and B effect this reaction; use of other Pd catalysts failed. A catalytic cycle involving Friedel-Crafts-type or C-H activation and cyclization processes (intermediates A or B) is suggested. The scope and limitations of this interesting new approach to benzofurans were incompletely defined.