Copper(II)-Mediated ortho-Selective C(sp2)-H Tandem Alkynylation/Annulation and ortho-Hydroxylation of Anilides with 2-Aminophenyl-1H-pyrazole as a Directing Group.

2-Aminophenyl-1H-pyrazole has been identified as a viable directing group to promote copper(II)-mediated ortho-selective sp2 C-H bond tandem alkynylation/annulation of anilides with terminal alkynes to offer arylmethylene isoindolinones. Meanwhile, copper(II)-mediated ortho-selective sp2 C-H hydroxylation of anilides has also been optimized as the major reaction pathway by using Cu(OAc)2 as the promoter and 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine as an organic base. Recovery of the directing group was achieved by hydrazinolysis for arylmethylene isoindolinones and basic hydrolysis for the hydroxylation products.