Pd-catalyzed oxidative acylation of 2-phenoxypyridines with alcohols via C-H bond activation

A palladium-catalyzed oxidative acylation of 2-phenoxypyridines with benzylic and aliphatic alcohols via C-H bond activation is described. This protocol represents direct access to biologically active ortho-acylphenol derivatives, and provides new opportunities to use readily available alcohols as starting materials for catalytic acylation reactions.