N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Palladium(II)-1-Methylimidazole Complex Catalyzed Direct C-H Bond Arylation of Benzo[b]furans with Aryl Chlorides

The first example of sole direct C-H bond arylation of benzo[b]furans with aryl chlorides was achieved catalyzed by a well-defined NHC-Pd(II)-Im complex. Under the suitable conditions, all reactions involving kinds of benzo[b]furans and (hetero)aryl chlorides proceeded well to give the desired C2-arylated benzo[b]furans in sole regioselectivity in acceptable to high yields, providing an efficient and economic pathway for the direct C2-H bond arylation of benzo[b]furans.