10.1021/jo500675a
The research investigates the Suzuki?Miyaura coupling reactions of various halophenols (o-, m-, and p-iodophenols and bromophenols) with phenol boronic acids under standardized conditions using Pd/C as a catalyst and water as a solvent. The study aims to systematically explore the effects of positional isomerism on the reactivity and yield of biphenol products, with a particular focus on synthesizing phytoalexins from the subtribe Pyrinae, which have antibacterial properties and are produced by fruit trees in response to microbial infections. The researchers found that certain combinations, such as those leading to 2,4′-biphenol, were particularly challenging but could be improved by using additives like fluorides. The study concluded that microwave irradiation significantly enhanced the efficiency of the coupling reactions, especially for bromophenols, and provided optimized protocols for synthesizing various phytoalexins, including aucuparin, rhaphiolepsin, and garcibiphenyl C, with synthetically useful yields.