Chelation-induced catalytic multiple arylation of allylic 2-pyridyl sulfones

The development of a chelation-assisted, transition metal-catalyzed protocol for the sequential multiarylation of cyclic allyl sulfones is described. The metal-coordinating ability of the 2-pyridyl group on the sulfone promotes the otherwise difficult intermolecular Heck monoarylation and diarylation of trisubstituted alkenes, as well as the copper-catalyzed allylic arylation with Grignard reagents.