Pd-Catalyzed, ortho C–H Methylation and Fluorination of Benzaldehydes Using Orthanilic Acids as Transient Directing Groups

The direct, Pd-catalyzed ortho C–H methylation and fluorination of benzaldehydes have been accomplished using commercially available orthanilic acids as transient directing groups. In these reactions, the 1-fluoro-2,4,6-trimethylpyridinium salts can be either a bystanding F+ oxidant or an electrophilic fluorinating reagent. An X-ray crystal structure of a benzaldehyde ortho C–H palladation intermediate was obtained using triphenylphosphine as the stabilizing ligand.