Metal Free Bi(hetero)aryl Synthesis: A Benzyne Truce–Smiles Rearrangement

A new benzyne transformation is described that affords versatile biaryl structures without recourse to transition-metal catalysis or stoichiometric amounts of organometallic building blocks. Aryl sulfonamides add to benzyne upon fluoride activation, and then undergo an aryl Truce-Smiles rearrangement to afford biaryls with sulfur dioxide extrusion. The reaction proceeds under simple reaction conditions and has excellent scope for the synthesis of sterically hindered atropisomeric biaryl amines.