Synthesis of a novel bridged 2-(cyclopentadienyl)-indene system using Pd-catalyzed Negishi-type cross coupling

The palladium-catalyzed Negishi-type C-C-coupling of the nonaromatic systems 2-indenyl and cyclopentadienyl were investigated. The employed catalyst played a decisive role in product formation. Instead of Pd(PPh₃)₄, the more bulky Pd(dppf)Cl₂·CH₂Cl₂ led to the desired system in distinguished yields.     

“(Diphosphine)Nickel”‐Catalyzed Negishi Cross‐Coupling: An Experimental and Theoretical Study

The use of a strongly donating “(bis‐dialkylphosphine)Ni” fragment promotes the catalytic coupling of a large range of ArCl and ArZnCl derivatives under mild conditions. Stoichiometric mechanistic investigations and DFT calculations prove that a Ni⁰/Ni^II cycle is operative in this system.     

Novel substrates for palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions of arenes

Arenes and heteroarenes are ubiquitous substructures in biologically active agents and new materials. Thus, functionalization ("refinement") of simple arene precursors is still of major importance for preparative organic chemistry. During the last 20 years, especially transition-metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of aryl halides and triflates have given arene chemistry new impetus. The first industrial applications were realized a few years ago. Quite recently, carbonic acid derivatives such as anhydrides and esters have added to the scope of substrates for these coupling reactions. Some recent developments in this area are presented in this Minireview.     

Density functional studies on palladium-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions assisted by N- or P-chelating ligands

DFT studies with the B3LYP functional have been carried out on the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions of phenyl chloride and phenylboronic acid catalyzed by palladium complexes with N- or P-chelating ligands. The full catalytic cycle, from the addition of reactants to the catalyst to the release of the cross-coupled product from the complexed intermediate, has been examined. The stages within the cycle, such as oxidative addition, transmetalation, and reductive elimination, were validated by linking the mechanistically relevant intermediates and transition states. Various derivatives of diimine, diphosphine, and diamine were considered as potential model ligands. The catalytic reaction employing diimine as the chelating ligand has been verified as the one with the most energetically feasible route.     

Higher-order zincates as transmetalators in alkyl-alkyl negishi cross-coupling

Negishi revisited: higher-order alkyl zincates have been subjected to Negishi coupling with alkyl bromides. For the first time, coupling takes place in straight THF, i.e., without a salt additive and a high dielectric co-solvent. This provides evidence that it is the higher-order zincate that undergoes transmetalation to Pd, and not mono-anionic zincates or any of the other species present in the Schlenk equilibrium.     

Highly efficient and functional-group-tolerant catalysts for the palladium-catalyzed coupling of aryl chlorides with thiols

The cross-coupling reaction of aryl chlorides with aliphatic and aromatic thiols catalyzed by palladium complexes of the strongly binding bisphosphine CyPF-tBu ligand (1) is reported. Most of the reactions catalyzed by complexes of ligand 1 occur with turnover numbers that exceed those of previous catalysts by two orders of magnitude. The reactions occur with excellent yields, broad scope and high tolerance of functional groups. Coupling of aryl halides with thiols in the presence of low loadings of catalysts derived from other Josiphos type ligands, as well as ligands of other structural types, are also described.