Generation of Arylated Quinones by Iron-Catalyzed Oxidative Arylation of Phenols: Formal Synthesis of Phellodonin, Sarcodonin e, Leucomelone and Betulinan A

Biologically and pharmaceutically relevant arylated quinones (Quin-Ar) have been synthesized via direct CH arylation of a variety of phenols using arylboronic acids. An inexpensive, environmentally friendly iron catalyst, ferric sulphate, Fe-2(SO4)(3), was employed in this operationally simple and efficient method.