Nickel-Catalyzed Decarbonyloxidation of 3‑Aryl Benzofuran-2(3H)‑ones to 2‑Hydroxybenzophenones

We have developed a protocol to facilitate the nickel-catalyzed decarbonyloxidation of 3-aryl benzofuran-2­(3H)-ones to 2-hydroxybenzophenones under mild conditions, which is an efficient approach for the decarbonyloxidation of lactones in organic synthesis. A diverse range of substrates can undergo C­(O)–O/C­(O)–C bond cleavage to generate the target products in good yields. These 2-hydroxybenzophenones can be converted into a variety of compounds via reactions such as esterification, cyclization, and reduction.