Sulfonium Salts as Alkylating Agents for Palladium-Catalyzed Direct Ortho Alkylation of Anilides and Aromatic Ureas, Dániel Cs. Simkó, Péter Elekes, Vivien Pázmándi, Zoltán Novák, Org. Lett. 2018, 20, 676-679. DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.7b03813 | [Full Text Link] [Supp. Info. Link]

A novel method for the ortho alkylation of acetanilide and aromatic urea derivatives via C–H activation was developed. Alkyl dibenzothiophenium salts are considered to be new reagents for the palladium-catalyzed C–H activation reaction, which enables the transfer of methyl and other alkyl groups from the sulfonium salt to the aniline derivatives under mild catalytic conditions.