Synthesis of bicyclic p-diiodobenzenes via silver-catalyzed Csp-H iodination and ruthenium-catalyzed cycloaddition.

Highly substituted iodobenzenes were efficiently and regioselectively synthesized from readily available 1,6-diynes via two-step process consisting of silver-catalyzed Csp-H iodination and subsequent ruthenium-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of resultant iododiynes. Some of the obtained iodobenzenes were subjected to palladium-catalyzed C-C bond-forming reactions such as Mizoroki-Heck reaction, Sonogashira reaction, and Suzuki-Miyaura coupling, giving highly conjugated molecules.