A directing group free Pd(II)-catalysed desulfitative C6-arylation of 2-pyridone using an arylsulfonyl chloride.

A Pd(ii)-catalysed direct desulfitative arylation was realized at the C6-position of the 2-pyridone scaffold. Aryl sulfonyl chloride was used as an alternative arylating agent. The required site-selectivity occurred without the strategic installation of a heteroatom containing directing group. Preliminary mechanistic studies revealed that radical species were involved during this process.