Synthesis of 2-Iodoazulenes by the Iododeboronation of Azulen-2-ylboronic Acid Pinacol Esters with Copper(I) Iodide.

Azulen-2-ylboronic acid pinacol ester, prepared by iridium-catalyzed C-H borylation of azulene, efficiently underwent iododeboronation with a stoichiometric amount of copper(I) iodide. This reaction allowed the synthesis of 2-iodoazulene in only two steps starting from azulene. This methodology was successfully applied to analogous azulenes.