Abstract
The reaction of o‐alkynylbenzaldehydes 1 with different alcohols, silylated nucleophiles 5, electron‐rich arenes 10, and heteroarenes 12 in the presence of the reagent IPy~2~BF~4~, at room temperature, gave functionalized 4‐iodo‐1__H__‐isochromenes 2, 6, 11, and 13 in a regioselective manner. When alkynes 16 and alkenes 19 and 20 were used as nucleophiles, a regioselective benzannulation reaction took place to form 1‐iodonaphthalenes 17 and 1‐naphthyl ketones 18, respectively. Moreover, the latter process has been adapted to accomplish the synthesis of indole, benzofuran, and benzothiophene derivatives (23, 27, and 28, respectively). The three patterns of reactivity observed for the o‐alkynylbenzaldehyde derivatives with IPy~2~BF~4~ stem from a common iodinated isobenzopyrylium ion intermediate, A, that evolves in a different way depending on the nucleophile present in the reaction medium. A mechanism is proposed and the different reaction pathways observed as a function of the type of nucleophile are discussed. Furthermore, the reaction of the o‐hexynylbenzaldehyde 1 b with styrene was monitored by NMR spectroscopy. Compound III, a resting state for the common intermediate in the absence of acid, has been isolated. Its evolution in acid media has been also tested, thereby providing support to the proposed mechanism.