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As an important fragment and synthetic intermediate, functionalized 6-arylsalicylate substructure widely exist in pharmacologically relevant natural products and bioactive compounds. In our recent works, we discovered two highly potent inhibitors for combating mutants of acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS), an important target for herbicide discovery. These two inhibitors contain 6-arylsalicylate skeleton. Previously, we have explored a new method to synthesize position-6 aryl substituted salicylic acid fragment. However, this method failed to synthesize 4-methyl-6-aryl salicylic acids. Herein, we developed a new efficient method for the synthesis of functionalized 4-methyl-6-bulkyarylsalicylates via a microwave-promoted Suzuki cross-coupling. This method has obvious advantages, such as a wide range of substrates, smooth and rapid reaction, moderate to excellent yields. Due to its superiority to the traditional available methods, this protocol could be utilized to synthesize pyrimidinyl(thio)salicylic acid and its derivatives.

Functionalized 6-substituted-thiosalicylates are key intermediates for the synthesis of pyrimidinyl(thio)salicylic acids, a group of important herbicides targeting plant acetohydroxyacid synthase. Therefore, it is of great interest to develop an efficient method for the syntheses of 6-substituted-thiosalicylates. Herein, we have developed a direct and efficient method for the synthesis of functionalized 6-substituted-thiosalicylates (4) from aryl iodide (1) by using an improved microwave-assisted Suzuki cross-coupling reaction. Almost all the reactions proceeded smoothly and afforded moderate to excellent yields of products. Moreover, this protocol is obviously superior to the traditional available methods and could be utilized to synthesize pyrimidinyl(thio)salicylic acid and its derivatives.

Functionalized 6-arylsalicylate substructures occur in a variety of pharmacologically relevant natural products and bioactive compounds. They are also broadly used as important intermediates in organic synthesis. Traditional synthetic methods have suffered from some drawbacks, such as relatively harsh reaction conditions, narrow range of substrates, and poor yields. Utilizing microwave irradiation, the synthesis of functionalized 6-arylsalicylates via a Suzuki cross-coupling has been developed with a wide range of substrates. Almost all the reactions proceeded smoothly and afforded moderate to excellent yields of products, which indicated that electronic effects and steric modifications have little effect on this reaction.