A DIRECT SYNTHESIS OF TRANS 2-ARYLBENZOCYCLOBUTENOL, A POTENTIAL INTERMEDIATE FOR PODOPHYLLOTOXIN SYNTHESIS: USE OF LDA FOR BENZYNE FORMATION AND TRAPPING

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)85200-4

Treatment of m-alkoxyaryl bromides with LDA in THF produces the corresponding aryne which can be trapped intramolecularly by an anion α to a nitrile to produce a substituted benzocyclobutenyl nitrile, the precursor of a trans arylbenzocyclobutenol potenti