Silanol: A Traceless Directing Group for Pd-Catalyzed o-Alkenylation of Phenols

A silanol-directed, Pd(II)-catalyzed C-H alkenylation of phenols is reported. This work features silanol, as a novel traceless directing group, and a directed o-C-H alkenylation of phenols. This new method allows for efficient synthesis of diverse alkenylated phenols, including an estrone derivative.