Heterocycles are fundamentally important to applied fields of science, but the majority of methods for their synthesis employ cross-coupling reactions for which more atom- and step-efficient alternatives are desired. This presentation will describe a biomimimetic approach to heterocycles that hinges on a copper-catalyzed aerobic dearomatization of phenols to ortho-quinones. Issues of chemo- and regio-selectivity during O2 activation and oxygen atom transfer will be discussed, and synthetic applications will include the direct conversion of phenols into benzoxazole and oxindole heterocycles.

Biomimetic catalytic aerobic oxidation of phenols for the efficient synthesis of polyfunctional heterocycles

248th National Meeting (2014)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.