Regioselective synthesis of functionally congested biaryls through a novel C-C bond formation reaction

An expeditious synthesis of unsymmetrical biaryls functionalized with electron-withdrawing or-donating substituents is described and illustrated by the carbanion-induced ring transformation of 2H-pyran-2-ones with malononitrile in excellent yields. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.