SYNTHESIS OF 1,2-DISUBSTITUTED BENZENES AND BIPHENYLS FROM PHTHALIC ACIDS THROUGH ELECTROREDUCTION FOLLOWED BY ELECTROCYCLIC REACTIONS WITH ALKYNES

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)77642-8

Various substituted 1,2-dihydrophthalic acids were synthesized by electroreduction of phthalic acids in excellent yields.The electrocyclic reaction of 1,2-dihydrophthalic acids or the methyl ester with alkynes gave 1,2-disubstituted benzenes and biphenyls in good yields together with fumaric acid or methyl fumarate.