Monoligated Pd(0)-catalyzed intramolecular ortho- and para-arylation of phenols for the synthesis of aporphine alkaloids. Synthesis of (−)-lirinine

An intramolecular palladium(0)-mediated ortho-arylation of phenols applied to the synthesis of various substituted aporphines is reported. Most significantly, the efficiency of the transformation was enhanced by the use of monoligated Pd(0) complexes. This methodology was extended to para-arylation of phenols and employed in the synthesis of the aporphine alkaloid (−)-lirinine.