Direct Alkoxycarbonylation of Heteroarenes via Cu-Mediated Trichloromethylation and In Situ Alcoholysis.

We report an efficient approach for direct alkoxycarbonylation of furans as well as other heteroarenes via a one-step copper-mediated reaction of three components (i.e., heteroarene, alcohol, and CHCl3). The copper additive was confirmed to simultaneously promote the reaction in three pathways: oxidant cracking, single electron transfer, and alcoholysis. By means of this protocol, various functionalized furancarboxylates and other heteroarenecarboxylates were facilely obtained in moderate to good yields.