Nickel-catalyzed regioselective C–H acylation of chelating arenes: a new catalytic system for C–C bond formation via a radical process and its mechanistic explorations

Abstract

An unprecedented acylation at the ortho C–H bond of chelating arenes via the Ni(II)-catalyzed cross dehydrogenative coupling strategy has been developed here. This new procedure exhibits excellent regioselectivity and good functional group tolerance. This discovery could be of great importance for the C–H acylation reactions of chelating arenes without any extraneous directing group and for the application of nickel-catalyzed C–H activation. Mechanistic investigations into the reaction process are also described.