Iridium-catalyzed oxidative Ar–H/Ar–H cross-coupling of primary benzamides with thiophenes

Abstract

(2-Thienyl)benzamide frameworks are prevalent in pharmaceuticals and advanced materials. Herein, we disclose an iridium-catalyzed oxidative Ar–H/Ar–H cross-coupling reaction of primary benzamides with thiophenes, which provides a rapid pathway to (2-thienyl)benzamide skeletons. Furthermore, the coupled products can be transformed to the corresponding important thiophene-fused 1-isoquinolinones via a copper-catalyzed intramolecular annulation.