An Alternative Method for Generating Arynes from ortho-Silylaryl Triflates: Activation by Cesium Carbonate in the Presence of a Crown Ether.

An alternative method for generating arynes from ortho-silylaryl triflates using cesium carbonate and 18-crown-6 is reported. The method was efficiently applied to a variety of reactions between several arynes and arynophiles. We also demonstrated that the efficiency of aryne generation is significantly affected by the alkali metal countercation of the carbonate.