Palladium-Catalyzed Carbonylative Synthesis of Diaryl Ketones from Arenes and Arylboronic Acids through C(sp2)-H Thianthrenation.

The development of mild methodology for converting inert C-H bonds to value-added molecules has been an attractive research topic during the last few decades as it offers efficient preparation. Meanwhile, diaryl ketones hold potent applications in antitumor drugs, the agrochemical industry, and synthetic chemistry. Herein, we report versatile palladium-catalyzed carbonylative cross-coupling reactions of aryl thianthrenium salts with arylboronic acids. Arenes were transformed site selectively via C(sp2)-H thianthrenation, and various desired diaryl ketones were produced in good to excellent yields.