A Versatile and Regiospecific Synthesis of Functionalized 1,3-Diarylisobenzofurans.

A convenient, versatile, and regiospecific synthesis of functionalized 1,3-diarylisobenzofurans has been developed. It involves chemoselective addition of arylmagnesium reagents to the aldehyde function of o-aroylbenzaldehydes, themselves readily obtained by lead tetraacetate oxidation of N-aroylhydrazones of salicylaldehydes. Various functional groups, including nitro, iodo, or ester functionalities, have thus been positioned with complete regiospecificity on the 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran backbone.