A new approach to desketoraloxifene analogs from oxygen-bearing 3-iodobenzo[b]thiophenes prepared via iodocyclization

A formal total synthesis of the benzothiophene selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) desketoraloxifene and analogs has been accomplished from alkynes bearing electron-rich aromatic rings by electrophilic cyclization using I2. This approach affords oxygen-bearing 3-iodobenzo[b]thiophenes in excellent yields, which are easily further elaborated using a two-step approach involving Suzuki–Miyaura and Mitsunobu coupling reactions.