Preparation of Polyfunctional Biaryl Derivatives by Cyclolanthanation of 2-Bromobiaryls and Heterocyclic Analogues Using nBu2LaCl.4 LiCl

Various aryl- and heteroaryl-substituted 2-bromobiaryls are converted to cyclometalated lanthanum intermediates by reaction with nBu(2)LaCl.4 LiCl. These resulting lanthanum heterocycles are key intermediates for the facile preparation of functionalized 2,2 '-diiodobiaryls, silafluorenes, fluoren-9-ones, phenanthrenes, and their related heterocyclic analogues. X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy was used to rationalize the proposed structures of the involved organolanthanum species.