Highly regioselective palladium-catalyzed domino reaction for post-functionalization of BODIPY

Abstract

A series of benzo[a]-fused BODIPYs and the corresponding isomeric naphthyl-BODIPYs have been synthesized through a facile one-pot palladium-catalyzed domino reaction of BODIPY precursors (2-bromo-BODIPYs) with diarylethynes, via “cis, cis” and “trans, cis” addition transition states with alkynes, respectively. This reaction exhibits unprecedentedly complete cyclization regioselectivity to the a-position of the BODIPY over the b-one, and the resulting products can be effectively regulated by the substituent choice on the diarylethynes.