Arylation with Aryllead Triacetates Produced in situ by Mercury-Lead Exchange

Abstract

The addition of lead tetraacetate to diphenylmercury in chloroform leads to the rapid formation of a solution of phenyllead triacetate, which has been used directly for the C-phenylation of ethyl 2-oxocyclopentanecarboxylate (1) and 2-nitropropane in good yield. This method of arylation has been examined for a range of diorganolead compounds and the β-keto ester (1), and the results indicate that the method should be widely applicable.