Oxidative, Iodoarene‐Catalyzed Intramolecular Alkene Arylation for the Synthesis of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

A catalytic, metal-free and chemoselective oxidative intramolecular coupling of arene and alkene C-H bonds is reported. The active hypervalent iodine (HVI) reagent, generated catalytically in situ from iodotoluene and meta-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (m-CPBA), reacts with o-vinylbiphenyls to generate polyaromatic hydrocarbons in up to 95 % yield. Experimental evidence suggests the reactions proceed though vinyliodonium and, possibly, vinylenephenonium intermediates.