Para-Coupling Of Phenols With C2/C3-Substituted Benzothiophene S-Oxides

C2 and C3 substituted benzothiophenes are common structures in medicinal and materials chemistry. The cross-coupling of phenols with benzothiophenes is a useful route towards these important molecules. In this report we reveal an efficient C-H/C-H-type cross-coupling of benzothiophenes, activated as their S-oxides, with phenols to give C2/C3 arylated benzothiophenes. Whereas previous reports describe cross-coupling at the ortho-position between phenols and sulfoxides, this procedure allows para-functionalization of phenols that typically have their ortho positions blocked. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.