Combined directed ortho-metalation, remote metalation, and Stille cross-coupling strategies. Concise stereoselective synthesis of polysubstituted 9H-fluoren-9-ones

The new sequential stereoselective synthesis of diversely substituted 9H-fluoren-9-ones by ortho-lithiation/Bu3SnCl quench of unprotected benzoic acids followed by Stille cross-coupling reaction and remote metalation is reported.