Hypervalent iodine(III)-induced oxidative [4+2] annulation of o-phenylenediamines and electron-deficient alkynes: direct synthesis of quinoxalines from alkyne substrates under metal-free conditions.

Hypervalent iodine(III)-induced oxidative [4+2] annulation of o-phenylenediamines and electron-deficient alkynes under metal-free conditions has been developed. The reaction allows for direct access to quinoxalines bearing two electron-withdrawing groups in an efficient manner.