Room‐Temperature ortho‐Alkoxylation and ‐Halogenation of N‐Tosylbenzamides by Using Palladium(II)‐Catalyzed CH Activation

The N‐tosylcarboxamide group can direct the room‐temperature palladium‐catalyzed C?H alkoxylation and halogenation of substituted arenes in a simple and mild procedure. The room‐temperature stoichiometric cyclopalladation of N‐tosylbenzamide was first studied, and the ability of the palladacycle to react with oxidants to form C?X and C?O bonds under mild conditions was demonstrated. The reaction conditions were then adapted to promote room‐temperature ortho‐alkoxylations and ortho‐halogenations of N‐tosylbenzamides using palladium as catalyst. The scope and limitation of both alkoxylations and halogenations was studied and the subsequent functional transformation of the N‐tosylcarboxamide group through nucleophilic additions was evaluated. This methodology offers a simple and mild route to diversely functionalized arenes.