Chemoselective arylation of phenols with bromo-nitroarenes: synthesis of nitro-biaryl-ols and their conversion into benzofurans and carbazoles

Abstract

A series of electron withdrawing or donating group substituted phenols were chemoselectively arylated with various substituted bromo-nitroarenes using KO^tBu at room temperature via an S_NAr pathway. The synthesis of natural alkaloids (carbazoles), dibenzofurans, and a biaryl-indole was achieved from the synthesized nitro-biaryl-ols.