Iron‐Catalyzed Arene Prenylation

Abstract

The syntheses of prenylated arenes and 2,2‐dimethylchromans using a Friedel–Crafts‐type coupling between activated arenes and isoprene is reported. A combination of catalytic amounts of FeCl3 and AgBF4 promotes a regioselective prenylation event followed by a cyclization to form a 2,2‐dimethylchroman structure. The method avoids isoprene polymerization and allows the facile late‐stage derivatization of biologically active motifs.

Room Temperature Catalyst System for the Hydroarylation of Olefins

“…Importantly, the transition metal route also proceeds to yield the anti-Markovnikov products. Our laboratory’s interest in atom-efficient functionalizations of π-systems prompted us to explore a strategy to generate diarylmethines through the hydroarylation of styrene derivatives. To address the shortcomings of previous reports, we searched for a low-cost, mild method for the hydroarylation of styrene derivatives.…”