Synthesis of modified bile acids via palladium-catalyzed C(sp³)-H (hetero)arylation

A Pd(ii)-catalyzed strategy for the diastereo- and regioselective (hetero)arylation of unactivated C(sp(3))-H bonds in bile acids is accomplished with aryl and heteroaryl iodides under solvent-free conditions using the 8-aminoquinoline auxiliary as a directing group. This methodology demonstrated excellent functional group tolerance with respect to aryl/heteroaryl iodides on O-protected N-(quinolin-8-yl)cholyl/deoxycholyl amides to afford & beta;-C(sp(3))-H (hetero)arylated products in good-to-excellent yields. Moreover, the 8-aminoquinoline (AQ) auxiliary can easily be removed to obtain modified bile acids.