Gold-Catalyzed Oxidative Acyloxylation of Arenes

A variety of nonactivated hindered aromatic rings are acyloxylated (22 examples, up to 83% yield) in the presence of PPh3AuCl as the catalyst and di(acetoxy)iodobenzene as the oxidant. The reaction proceeds at 110 degrees C in an acid media and allows the formation of both hindered acetoxy and acyloxy derivatives. This methodology nicely complements the Pd-catalyzed arene acyloxylation reaction, which is not operating on hindered substrates and allows the Au-catalyzed unprecedented acyloxylation reaction of arenes, implying various carboxylic acids.