Copper-Catalyzed Site-Selective Electrophilic Aromatic Alkylation of Monosubstituted Simple Arenes.
Wanting FuJing TianYuanli DingXi WangMeiyan WangZikun WangPublished in: Organic letters (2024)
A copper-catalyzed highly para -selective electrophilic aromatic alkylation of monosubstituted simple arenes has been accomplished. This method provides a practical platform for the transformation from simple commercial arenes to well-defined di- and multisubstituted aromatics with high added value. Control experiments and DFT calculations reveal that the achievement of the excellent site-selectivity is ascribed to the controlled deprotonation of the Wheland intermediates. Remarkably, the type of alkylating regent has been shown to have a significant impact on site-selectivity.