Pd-Catalyzed ipso,meta-Dimethylation of ortho-Substituted Iodoarenes via a Base-Controlled C–H Activation Cascade with Dimethyl Carbonate as the Methyl Source

A methyl group can have a profound impact on the pharmacological properties of organic molecules. Hence, developing methylation methods and methylating reagents is essential in medicinal chemistry. We report a palladium-catalyzed dimethylation reaction of ortho-substituted iodoarenes using dimethyl carbonate as a methyl source. In the presence of K2CO3 as a base, iodoarenes are dimethylated at the ipso- and meta-positions of the iodo group, which represents a novel strategy for meta-C–H methylation. With KOAc as the base, subsequent oxidative C­(sp3)–H/C­(sp3)–H coupling occurs; in this case, the overall transformation achieves triple C–H activation to form three new C–C bonds. These reactions allow expedient access to 2,6-dimethylated phenols, 2,3-dihydrobenzofurans, and indanes, which are ubiquitous structural motifs and essential synthetic intermediates of biologically and pharmacologically active compounds.