Divergent oxidative dearomatization coupling reactions to construct polycyclic cyclohexadienones

Abstract

Highly selective divergent oxidative dearomatization coupling reactions, in which the chemoselectivity is controlled by catalysts and bases, are reported herein. Three different kinds of polycyclic cyclohexadienones are produced from the same reactants (41 examples, 85–99% yield). Our method marks a novel copper- and palladium-catalyzed C–H oxidative dearomatization of phenolic derivatives.