Synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted benzo[b]thiophenes via palladium-catalyzed coupling and electrophilic cyclization of terminal acetylenes.

2,3-Disubstituted benzo[b]thiophenes have been prepared in excellent yields via coupling of terminal acetylenes with commercially available o-iodothioanisole in the presence of a palladium catalyst and subsequent electrophilic cyclization of the resulting o-(1-alkynyl)thioanisole derivatives. I(2), Br(2), NBS, p-O(2)NC(6)H(4)SCl, and PhSeCl have been utilized as electrophiles. Aryl-, vinyl-, and alkyl-substituted terminal acetylenes undergo this coupling and cyclization to produce excellent yields of benzo[b]thiophenes. (Trimethylsilyl)acetylene also undergoes this coupling/cyclization process with I(2), NBS, and the sulfur and selenium electrophiles to afford the corresponding 2-(trimethylsilyl)benzo[b]thiophenes. However, cyclization of the silyl-containing thioanisole using Br(2) affords 2,3-dibromobenzo[b]thiophene.