An Efficient Computational Model to Predict the Synthetic Utility of Heterocyclic Arynes

Think before you act: a computational approach is reported for evaluating the synthetic potential of heterocyclic arynes. Routine and rapid calculations of arene dehydrogenation energies and aryne angle distortion predict the likelihood that a given hetaryne can be generated, as well as the degree of regioselectivity expected in a reaction between a given hetaryne and a nucleophilic trapping agent.