Tuning radical reactivity using iodine in oxidative C(sp3)–H/C(sp)–H cross-coupling: an easy way toward the synthesis of furans and indolizines

Abstract

Molecular iodine was found to be an effective redox catalyst for the oxidative cross-coupling of carbonyl compounds with terminal alkynes. In this work, we demonstrated that iodine could tune radical reactivity through reversible C–I bond formation for controlling the reaction selectivity. This iodine catalysis protocol provided an easy way for the synthesis of various furans and indolizines.