Chlorobenzene-driven palladium-catalysed lactonisation of benzoic acids

Abstract

Herein, we developed a palladium-catalysed C–H cyclisation of benzoic acids in chlorobenzene without additional oxidants. The key to the success of these reactions is the use of chlorobenzene, which serves a dual role as a solvent and an oxidant, thus providing a simple and efficient method for synthesising phthalides.