Selenium-Catalyzed C(sp3)-H Acyloxylation: Application in the Expedient Synthesis of Isobenzofuranones

Oxidative Se-catalyzed C(sp(3))H bond acyloxylation has been used to construct a diverse array of isobenzofuranones from simple ortho-allyl benzoic acid derivatives. The synthetic procedure employs mild reaction conditions and gives high chemoselectivity enabled by an inexpensive organodiselane catalyst. The presented approach offers a new synthetic pathway toward the core structures of phthalide natural products.