Iodocyclisation of Electronically Resistant Alkynes: Synthesis of 2-Carboxy (and sulfoxy)-3-iodobenzo[b]thiophenes*

The iodocyclisation of alkynes bearing tethered nucleophiles is a highly effective method for the construction and diversification of heterocycles. A key limitation to this methodology is the 5-endo-dig iodocyclisation of alkynes that have an unfavourable electronic bias for electrophilic cyclisation. These tend to direct electrophilic attack of the iodonium atom to the wrong carbon for cyclisation, thus favouring competing addition reactions. Using our previously determined reaction conditions for the 5-endo-dig iodocyclisations of electronically resistant alkynes, we have achieved efficient synthetic access to 2-carboxy (and sulfoxy)-3-iodobenzo[b]thiophenes. The corresponding benzo[b]furans and indoles were not accessible under these conditions. This difference may arise due to the availability of a radical mechanism in the case of iodobenzo[b]thiophenes. The 2-carboxy functionality of the iodocyclised products can be further employed in iterative alkyne-coupling iodocyclisation reactions, where the carboxy group or an imine (Schiff base) partakes in a second iodocyclisation to generate a lactone or pyridine ring.