Use of tunable ligands allows for intermolecular Pd-catalyzed C--O bond formation

Bulky biaryl phosphine ligands facilitate Pd-catalyzed C-O coupling reactions of aryl halides with primary and secondary alcohols by promoting reductive elimination at the expense of beta-hydride elimination. The key to their success is the ability to match the size of the ligand to that of the combination of substrates. The efficient coupling of a number of unactivated aryl chlorides and bromides with cyclic and acyclic secondary alcohols was achieved. This included the coupling of allylic alcohols for the first time in a Pd-catalyzed coupling process.     

Nickel-catalyzed reductive coupling of aryl halides with secondary alkyl bromides and allylic acetate

A room-temperature Ni-catalyzed reductive method for the coupling of aryl bromides with secondary alkyl bromides has been developed, providing C(sp(2))-C(sp(3)) products in good to excellent yields. Slight modification of this protocol allows efficient coupling of activated aryl chlorides with cyclohexyl bromide and aryl bromides with allylic acetate.     

A general and efficient method for the palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of thiols and secondary phosphines

The general and efficient cross-coupling of thiols with aryl halides was developed utilizing Pd(OAc)₂/1,1′-bis(diisopropylphosphino)ferrocene as the catalyst. The substrate scope is broad and includes a variety of aryl bromides and chlorides, which can be coupled to aliphatic and aromatic thiols. This catalyst system has the widest substrate scope of any reported to date. The present catalyst system also enables the palladium-catalyzed coupling of secondary phosphines with aryl bromides and chlorides.     

Alkylation of aromatic aldehydes with boron halide derivatives

[reaction: see text] Aryl aldehydes react with alkylboron chloride derivatives in the presence of base to generate the corresponding arylalkylmethanols in good yields. A variety of alkylboron chlorides can be utilized in the new alkylation reaction.     

An efficient and general method for the Heck and Buchwald-Hartwig coupling reactions of aryl chlorides

The β-diketiminatophosphane Pd complex acted as a powerful catalyst for the Heck coupling of aryl chlorides with alkenes. Various aryl and heteroaryl chlorides were coupled efficiently under relatively mild conditions. Furthermore, this catalytic system also proved to be highly active in the Buchwald-Hartwig coupling of deactivated and sterically hindered aryl chlorides at room temperature.     

9-fluorenylphosphines for the Pd-catalyzed sonogashira, suzuki, and Buchwald-Hartwig coupling reactions in organic solvents and water

The lithiation/alkylation of fluorene leads to various 9-alkyl-fluorenes (alkyl=Me, Et, iPr, -Pr, -C18H25) in>95% yields, for which lithiation and reaction with R2PCl (R=Cy, iPr, tBu) generates 9-alkyl, 9-PR2-fluorenes which constitute electron-rich and bulky phosphine ligands. The in-situ-formed palladium-phosphine complexes ([Na2PdCl4], phosphonium salt, base, substrates) were tested in the Sonogashira, Suzuki, and Buchwald-Hartwig reactions of aryl chlorides and aryl bromides in organic solvents. The Sonogashira coupling of aryl chlorides at 100-120 degrees C leads to>90% yields with 1 mol% of Pd catalyst. The Suzuki coupling of aryl chlorides typically requires 0.05 mol% of Pd catalyst at 100 degrees C in dioxane for quantitative product formation. To carry out "green" cross-coupling reactions in water, 9-ethylfluorenyldicyclohexylphosphine was reacted in sulphuric acid to generate the respective 2-sulfonated phosphonium salt. The Suzuki coupling of activated aryl chlorides by using this water-soluble catalyst requires only 0.01 mol% of Pd catalyst, while a wide range of aryl chlorides can be quantitatively converted into the respective coupling products by using 0.1-0.5 mol% of catalyst in pure water at 100 degrees C. Difficult substrate combinations, such as naphthylboronic acid or 3-pyridylboronic acid and aryl chlorides are coupled at 100 degrees C by using 0.1-0.5 mol% of catalyst in pure water to obtain the respective N-heterocycles in quantitative yields. The copper-free aqueous Sonogashira coupling of aryl bromides generates the respective tolane derivatives in>95% yield.     

Light‐Promoted Nickel Catalysis: Etherification of Aryl Electrophiles with Alcohols Catalyzed by a NiII‐Aryl Complex

A highly effective C?O coupling reaction of (hetero)aryl electrophiles with primary and secondary alcohols is reported. Catalyzed by a Ni^II‐aryl complex under long‐wave UV (390–395 nm) irradiation in the presence of a soluble amine base without any additional photosensitizer, the reaction enables the etherification of aryl bromides and aryl chlorides as well as sulfonates with a wide range of primary and secondary aliphatic alcohols, affording synthetically important ethers. Intramolecular C?O coupling is also possible. The reaction appears to proceed via a Ni^I–Ni^III catalytic cycle.     

Light-Promoted Nickel Catalysis: Etherification of Aryl Electrophiles with Alcohols Catalyzed by a NiII-Aryl Complex

A highly effective C−O coupling reaction of (hetero)aryl electrophiles with primary and secondary alcohols is reported. Catalyzed by a Ni^II-aryl complex under long-wave UV (390–395 nm) irradiation in the presence of a soluble amine base without any additional photosensitizer, the reaction enables the etherification of aryl bromides and aryl chlorides as well as sulfonates with a wide range of primary and secondary aliphatic alcohols, affording synthetically important ethers. Intramolecular C−O coupling is also possible. The reaction appears to proceed via a Ni^I–Ni^III catalytic cycle.     

Integrating aryl chlorides into nickel-catalyzed 1,1-difunctionalization of alkenes

Difunctionalization of alkenes have developed into an important type of reactions for rapidly and efficiently assemble complex molecules. While extensive advancements have been achieved by the assistance of transition metal catalysis, the employment of cheap, abundant aryl chlorides as coupling partner is still a challenging task in this field. Herein, we report our first achievement in 1,1-difunctionalization of alkenes with aryl chlorides as coupling partners. The success is predominantly ascribed to the judicious selection of 1,2-diamine ligand. This study provides an efficient protocol for the synthesis of secondary benzyl boronates from easily accessible feedstock chemicals. Furthermore, the distinguished features of this method include excellent 1,1-regio- and chemoselectivity, good functional group tolerance and easily-operational catalytic reaction conditions.     

Copper(I)-catalyzed S-arylation of thiols with activated aryl chlorides on water

Copper chloride-catalyzed S-arylation of arenethiols is effected with activated aryl chlorides in neat water by using ethylenediamine as the pair ligand/base. This convenient, environmentally more friendly procedure for the coupling of aryl chlorides allows the arylation between sterically demanding coupling partners.     

Highly active palladium catalysts supported by bulky proazaphosphatrane ligands for Stille cross-coupling: coupling of aryl and vinyl chlorides, room temperature coupling of aryl bromides, coupling of aryl triflates, and synthesis of sterically hindered biaryls

A family of proazaphosphatrane ligands [P(RNCH2CH2)2N(R'NCH2CH2): R = R' = i-Bu, 1; R = Bz, R' = i-Bu, 3; R = R' = Bz, 4] for palladium-catalyzed Stille reactions of aryl chlorides is described. Catalysts derived from ligands 1 and 4 efficiently catalyze the coupling of electronically diverse aryl chlorides with an array of organotin reagents. The catalyst system based on the ligand 3 is active for the synthesis of sterically hindered biaryls (di-, tri-, and tetra-ortho substituted). The use of ligand 4 allows room-temperature coupling of aryl bromides and it also permits aryl triflates and vinyl chlorides to participate in Stille coupling.     

Palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions of aryl chlorides

Collectively, palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions represent some of the most powerful and versatile tools available to synthetic organic chemists. Their widespread popularity stems in part from the fact that they are generally tolerant to a large number of functional groups, which allows them to be employed in a wide range of applications. However, for many years a major limitation of palladium-catalyzed coupling processes has been the poor reactivity of aryl chlorides, which from the standpoints of cost and availability are more attractive substrates than the corresponding bromides, iodides, and triflates. Traditional palladium/triarylphosphane catalysts are only effective for the coupling of certain activated aryl chlorides (for example, heteroaryl chlorides and substrates that bear electron-withdrawing groups), but not for aryl chlorides in general. Since 1998, major advances have been described by a number of research groups addressing this challenge; catalysts based on bulky, electron-rich phosphanes and carbenes have proved to be particularly mild and versatile. This review summarizes both the seminal early work and the exciting recent developments in the area of palladium-catalyzed couplings of aryl chlorides.     

Ligand-supported palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of (hetero) aryl chlorides

The introduction of electron rich and sterically hindered ligands has made otherwise inert aryl chlorides and hetero aryl chlorides viable coupling partners in palladium-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura, Sonogashira, Stille and other types of cross-coupling reactions. This review gives highlights of cross-coupling of aryl chlorides employing in situ generated palladium catalytic systems.     

CuI-catalyzed direct synthesis of diaryl thioethers from aryl boronic acids and arylsulfonyl chlorides

A CuI-catalyzed direct coupling of aryl boronic acids with arylsulfonyl chlorides for the preparation of diaryl thioethers was developed. The reaction is initiated by a PPh₃ reduction of the arylsulfonyl chloride, followed by a CuI-catalyzed C–S coupling with an aryl boronic acid. Various arylsulfonyl chlorides can directly serve as a sulfur source in this mild and efficient reaction giving the desired products in moderate to good yields. Moreover, this practical method has also been applied to the thioetherification of aryl iodides and acetylacetones.     

Expanding the scope of the Cu assisted Suzuki-Miyaura reaction

Recent advances in the development of the copper facilitated Suzuki-Miyaura reaction are described. Improvements include expansion of substrate scope to include aryl chlorides and polyhalo aryl boronates. It was found that use of S-Phos and X-Phos could accomplish the coupling of 2-pyridyl boronates to aryl chlorides and bromides in shorter reaction times and in higher yield than previously described with DPPF.     

Zn/CuI-mediated coupling of alkyl halides with vinyl sulfones, vinyl sulfonates, and vinyl sulfonamides

A novel high-yielding Zn/CuI-mediated coupling method of alkyl halides with vinyl sulfones, vinyl sulfonates, and vinyl sulfonamides is described. This protocol is applicable for primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl iodides and bromides. Alkyl chlorides and aryl and vinyl halides were unreactive under the reaction conditions. Formamide was found to be a superior solvent for obtaining high yields.     

Rapid and efficient Pd-catalyzed Sonogashira coupling of aryl chlorides

An efficient and effective microwave-assisted cross-coupling of terminal alkynes with various aryl chlorides including sterically hindered, electron-rich, electron-neutral, and electron-deficient aryl chloride is developed. It proceeds faster and generally gives good to excellent yields and also can be extended successfully to the Suzuki coupling and Buchwald-Hartwig amination, as well as the Heck coupling with inert aryl chlorides. The short reaction times and simple reaction conditions coupling with a broad substrate scope render this method particularly attractive for the efficient preparation of biologically and medicinally interesting molecules.     

Suzuki Coupling of Cyclopropylboronic Acid With Aryl Halides Catalyzed by a Palladium–Tetraphosphine Complex

The tetraphosphine all‐cis‐1,2,3,4‐tetrakis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)cyclopentane (Tedicyp) in combination with [Pd(C₃H₅)Cl]₂ affords a very efficient catalyst for the coupling of cyclopropylboronic acid with aryl bromides and aryl chlorides. Higher reactions rates were observed with aryl bromides than with aryl chlorides; however, even in the presence of 1–0.4% of catalyst, a few aryl chlorides gave the coupling products in good yields. A wide variety of substituents such as alkyl, methoxy, trifluoromethyl, acetyl, benzoyl, formyl, carboxylate, nitro, and nitrile on the aryl halides are tolerated. The coupling reaction of sterically very congested aryl bromides such as bromomesitylene or 2,4,6‐triisopropylbromobenzene also proceeds in good yields.     

Highly effective activation of aryl chlorides for Suzuki coupling in aqueous media using a ferrocene-based Pd(II)–diimine catalyst

The Suzuki coupling of aryl chlorides with boronic acids using a ferrocene-containing Pd(II)–diimine complex as catalyst, in aqueous media, under microwave heating is reported. A small amount of the catalyst (0.1%) was found to be highly effective for coupling unactivated aryl chlorides with boronic acids to form sterically hindered ortho-substituted biaryls. The same catalyst also enabled the coupling of aryl bromides and iodides with various boronic acids in very high yields. The catalyst is air stable and the catalytic reaction can be completed in 15 min.     

Efficient Pd-Catalyzed Direct Coupling of Aryl Chlorides with Alkyllithium Reagents

Organolithium compounds are amongst the most important organometallic reagents and frequently used in difficult metallation reactions. However, their direct use in the formation of C−C bonds is less established. Although remarkable advances in the coupling of aryllithium compounds have been achieved, Csp²−Csp³ coupling reactions are very limited. Herein, we report the first general protocol for the coupling or aryl chlorides with alkyllithium reagents. Palladium catalysts based on ylide-substituted phosphines (YPhos) were found to be excellently suited for this transformation giving high selectivities at room temperature with a variety of aryl chlorides without the need for an additional transmetallation reagent. This is demonstrated in gram-scale synthesis including building blocks for materials chemistry and pharmaceutical industry. Furthermore, the direct coupling of aryllithiums as well as Grignard reagents with aryl chlorides was also easily accomplished at room temperature.