A novel and direct synthesis of alkylated 2,2′-bithiophene derivatives using a combination of hypervalent iodine(III) reagent and BF3•Et2O

A novel nonmetallic oxidative coupling of alkylthiophene derivatives leading to the corresponding 2,2'-bithiophene derivatives using a combination of a hypervalent iodine(III) reagent, phenyliodine bis(trifluoroacetate) (PIFA), and BF3.Et2O was developed.