Transition-Metal-Free Oxidative Cross-Coupling of Methylhetarenes with Imidazoheterocycles towards Efficient C(sp2)−H Carbonylation

Abstract

An efficient method for the oxidative cross-coupling of methylhetarenes with imidazoheterocycles by employing an eco-friendly iodine/DMSO reagent system has been developed. This C(sp2)−H carbonylation reaction proceeds through an in situ oxidation of a methylhetarene into a formylhetarene followed by an oxidative cross-coupling reaction with an imidazoheterocycle. This method has a wide substrate scope and good functional group tolerance and enables the construction of a large number of carbonylated imidazoheterocycles in very good yields.