General Method for the Synthesis of Salicylic Acids from Phenols through Palladium‐Catalyzed Silanol‐Directed CH Carboxylation

A silanol‐directed, palladium‐catalyzed C? H carboxylation reaction of phenols to give salicylic acids has been developed. This method features high efficiency and selectivity, and excellent functional‐group tolerance. The generality of this method was demonstrated by the carboxylation of estrone and by the synthesis of an unsymmetrically o,o′‐disubstituted phenolic compound through two sequential C? H functionalization processes.