Synthesis of partially reduced biaryls from thiophene S,S-dioxides and styrenes

Abstract Facile synthesis of partially reduced biaryls is disclosed from thiophene S,S-dioxides and styrenes. A wide range of dihydrobiphenyl derivatives were successfully synthesized by a simple, practical procedure under mild conditions. Also, a selective transformation of products was found using bases through the selective dehydrobromination. Kinetic studies and theoretical calculations of the dihydrobiphenyl synthesis demonstrated that the inverse-electron-demand Diels–Alder reaction is a rate-determining step in the reaction pathways.