Strategy for Overcoming Full Reversibility of Intermolecular Radical Addition to Aldehydes: Tandem C-H and C-O Bonds Cleaving Cyclization of (Phenoxymethyl)arenes with Carbonyls to Benzofurans.

An intermolecular addition of carbon radicals enabled by a cascade radical coupling strategy is developed. It includes an intermolecular alkyl radical addition to a carbonyl group followed by an intramolecular alkoxy radical addition to haloarenes and produces substituted benzofurans in high yields. The radical nature of this reaction is explored by radical trapping experiments and EPR analysis. The mechanism is investigated by KIE experiments and control experiments. This method could provide rapid and practical access to the key intermediate of TAM-16, a safe and potent antibacterial agent for treating tuberculosis, and, therefore, is of great importance for organic synthesis and the pharmaceutical industry.