General facile synthesis of 2,5-diarylheteropentalenes

Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of various heteropentalene derivatives were systematically studied. A general three-step synthesis of 2,5-diarylheteropentalenes involving two Suzuki or Negishi couplings and a regiospecific bromination was developed. Nonsymmetrical 2,5-diaryl-furans, thiophenes, pyrroles, 1,3-thiazoles, 1,3-oxazoles, 1,3,4-thiadiazoles, and 1,3,4-oxadiazoles were prepared in 31–67% isolated yield (three steps).