A Direct, Chemo-, and Regioselective Cross-Coupling Reaction of Arenes via Sequential Directed ortho Cuprations and Oxidation

Direct cross-coupling of Csp2–H/Csp2–H bonds of two arenes was achieved in 30–76% yield via sequential directed ortho cuprations (DoCu) with the cuprate base (TMP)2Cu(CN)Li2 (1, TMP = 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidido), followed by oxidation. This methodology offers easy access to unsymmetric biaryls from arenes with a variety of directed metalation groups (DMGs) and ancillary functional groups, taking advantage of the highly chemoselective action of 1.