Thianthrenation-Enabled α-Arylation of Carbonyl Compounds with Arenes.

The Pd-catalyzed α-arylation of carbonyl compounds with simple arenes enabled by site-selective thianthrenation has been demonstrated. This one-pot process using thianthrenium salts as the traceless arylating reagents features mild conditions and a broad substrate scope. In addition, this protocol could also tolerate the heterocyclic carbonyl compounds and complex bioactive molecules, which is appealing for medicinal chemistry.