A rhodium or palladium-catalyzedaddition of boronic acids to phthalaldehydonitrile, followed by an intramolecularlactonization of cyano to access 3-substituted phthalides, is described. This procedure tolerates a series of functional groups, such as methoxy, fluoro, chloro, and vinyl groups. It is a novel procedure for the synthesis of 3-arylphthalides.
A cobalt-catalyzed addition of aryl- and alkenylboronic acids to aldehydes and phthalaldehyde to give the corresponding biarylketones and 3-aryl phthalides in good to excellent yields in one pot is described.
rhodium‐catalyzed addition of aryl and alkenyl boronic acids to phthalaldehyde and subsequent intramolecular esterification is described (see scheme; cod=1,5‐cyclooctadiene, dppb=1,4‐bis(diphenylphosphino)butane). The method is facile and practical for accessing 3‐aryl and 3‐alkenyl phthalides in moderate to good yields. Several functional groups are tolerated under the reaction conditions.