Synthesis of aryl- and heteroaryl-substituted 3-benzyloxyisothiazoles via Suzuki and Negishi cross-coupling reactions

Introduction of aryl and heteroaryl substituents into the 5-position of 3-benzyloxyisothiazole (1) using palladium-catalyzed Suzuki and Negishi cross-coupling reactions was investigated. Attempts to generate synthetically viable nucleophilic species from 1 for Suzuki- or Negishi-type cross-couplings were unsuccessful. However, using 3-benzyloxy-5-iodoisothiazole 2 as an intermediate, a range of aromatic and heteroaromatic substituents were successfully introduced under Suzuki or Negishi cross-coupling conditions in good to excellent yields.