Monocarboxylation and Intramolecular Coupling of Butenylated Arenes via Palladium-Catalyzed C–H Activation Process

A novel
and practical reaction for the direct intramolecular oxidative coupling
of butenylated arenes is reported. With the catalysis of Pd­(OAc)2, reactions of various butenylated arenes and carboxylic acids
with Selectfluor reagent in CH3CN solution afforded the
corresponding monocarboxylation/cyclization products in good yields
under mild conditions. This research demonstrated an economic method
with the synthesis of 2-tetralyl carboxylic esters, a valuable class
of bioactive compounds.