Iridium(III)-Catalyzed Sequential C(2)-Arylation and Intramolecular C-O Bond Formation from Azulenecarboxylic Acids and Diaryliodonium Salts Access to Azulenofuranones.

Described herein is the iridium-catalyzed sequential C(2)-arylation reaction and intramolecular C-O bond formation from azulenecarboxylic acids and diaryliodonium salts, leading to the formation of 3-arylazulenofuranones. The sequential reaction proceeded smoothly through generation of 2-arylazulene-1-carboxylic acids derived from the iridium-catalyzed regioselective C(2)-arylation reaction without the decarboxylation reaction.