Mild and efficient nickel-catalyzed Heck reactions with electron-rich olefins

A new efficient protocol for the nickel-catalyzed Heck reaction of aryl triflates with vinyl ethers is presented. Mild reaction conditions that equal those of the corresponding palladium-catalyzed Heck reaction are applied, representing a practical and more sustainable alternative to the conventional regioselective arylation of vinyl ethers. A catalytic system comprised of Ni(COD)(2) and 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (DPPF) in combination with the tertiary amine Cy(2)NMe proved effective in the olefination of a wide range of aryl triflates. Both electron-deficient and electron-rich arenes proved compatible, and the corresponding aryl methyl ketone could be secured after hydrolysis in yields approaching quantitative. Good functional group tolerance was observed matching the characteristics of the analogous Pd-catalyzed Heck reaction. The high levels of catalytic activity were explained by the intermediacy of a cationic nickel(II) complex potentially responsible for the successive β-hydride elimination and base promoted catalyst regeneration. Although these elementary reactions are normally considered challenging, DFT calculations suggested this pathway to be favorable under the applied reaction conditions.     

Nickel-catalyzed C-H arylation of azoles with haloarenes: scope, mechanism, and applications to the synthesis of bioactive molecules

Novel nickel-based catalytic systems for the C-H arylation of azoles with haloarenes and aryl triflates have been developed. We have established that Ni(OAc)(2)/bipy/LiOtBu serves as a general catalytic system for the coupling with aryl bromides and iodides as aryl electrophiles. For couplings with more challenging electrophiles, such as aryl chlorides and triflates, the Ni(OAc)(2)/dppf (dppf = 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene) system was found to be effective. Thiazoles, benzothiazoles, oxazoles, benzoxazoles, and benzimidazoles can be used as the heteroarene coupling partner. Upon further investigation, we discovered a new protocol for the present coupling using Mg(OtBu)(2) as a milder and less expensive alternative to LiOtBu. Attempts to reveal the mechanism of this nickel-catalyzed heterobiaryl coupling are also described. This newly developed methodology has been successfully applied to the syntheses of febuxostat (a xanthine oxidase inhibitor that is effective for the treatment of gout and hyperuricemia), tafamidis (effective for the treatment of TTR amyloid polyneuropathy), and texaline (a natural product having antitubercular activity).     

Magnesiation of electron-rich aryl bromides and their use in nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions

Electron-rich aryl bromides are rapidly converted to the corresponding lithium triarylmagnesiates with (n-Bu)3MgLi, which undergo efficient nickel-catalyzed Kumada-Corriu cross-coupling reactions with a variety of aryl and alkenyl bromides, chlorides, tosylates, and triflates.     

Expeditious synthesis of 1,1-diarylethylenes related to isocombretastatin A-4 (isoCA-4) via palladium-catalyzed arylation of N-tosylhydrazones with aryl triflates

A quick and efficient entry to 1,1-diarylethylenes via the reaction of polyoxygenated aryl N-tosylhydrazones with aryl triflates is described. The reaction employs the catalytic system Pd(OAc)₂/XPhos, tBuOLi as the base and dioxane as the solvent. A variety of substituents on both the coupling partners’ hydrazones and triflates are tolerated. This procedure provides a complementary route to the existing methods for the access to 1,1-diarylethylenes of biological interest.     

Pd2(dba)3/Xantphos-catalyzed cross-coupling of thiols and aryl bromides/triflates

The cross-coupling of aliphatic and aromatic thiols and aryl bromides/triflates mediated by a Pd₂(dba)₃/Xantphos catalytic system in refluxing xylene (140 °C) affords the corresponding aryl thioethers in good to excellent yields.     

Lithium aminoborohydrides 17. Palladium catalyzed borylation of aryl iodides, bromides, and triflates with diisopropylaminoborane prepared from lithium diisopropylaminoborohydride

The Alcaraz-Vaultier borylation of aryl halides and triflates is reported utilizing diisopropylaminoborane (BH₂N(ⁱPr)₂) prepared from the corresponding lithium aminoborohydride (LAB reagent). BH₂N(ⁱPr)₂, prepared by reacting lithium diisopropylaminoborohydride with trimethylsilyl chloride, provided the most consistent isolated yields from this reaction. Catalytic amounts of palladium dichloride produced the highest yields from aryl iodides, while catalytic tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(chloroform) provided the best yields for aryl bromides and triflates. This route to boronic acids is mild enough to tolerate various functionalities and for the first time employs aryl triflates as substrates for the Alcaraz-Vaultier borylation. In addition, it was found that both boronic acid and ester compounds could be isolated from the reaction mixture utilizing simple work-up procedures. Treatment of the reaction intermediate with an acid/base work-up provided the corresponding boronic acid, while treating the same intermediate with a diol, such as neopentyl glycol, afforded the corresponding boronic ester.     

Palladium catalyzed atom-efficient cross-coupling reactions of triarylbismuths with aryl iodides and aryl triflates

The atom-efficient cross-coupling of triarylbismuths with aryl iodides or aryl triflates using catalytic Pd(OAc)₂/PPh₃ and K₃PO₄ as base in DMF at 90 °C to afford the corresponding functionalized biaryls in high yields is reported.     

Nickel-catalyzed C-P coupling of aryl mesylates and tosylates with H(O)PR1R2

A method was developed for the nickel-catalyzed phosphonylation of aryl mesylates and tosylates with H(O)PR(1)R(2). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of nickel-catalyzed C-P coupling of aryl mesylates and tosylates. Most of the substrates gave moderate to good yields under our catalytic system.     

Simple alkenes as substitutes for organometallic reagents: nickel-catalyzed, intermolecular coupling of aldehydes, silyl triflates, and alpha olefins

A nickel-catalyzed method for the three-component coupling of alkenes (ethylene and alpha olefins), aldehydes, and silyl triflates is described, and this process represents the first catalytic method for coupling aldehydes and alkenes to give allylic alcohol derivatives. Conceptually, the alkene functions as a replacement for an alkenylmetal reagent.     

A new palladium catalyzed protocol for atom-efficient cross-coupling reactions of triarylbismuths with aryl halides and triflates

A new palladium catalyzed protocol for an atom-efficient cross-coupling reaction of triarylbismuths with aryl halides and triflates has been described. The palladium catalytic system with Cs₂CO₃ base was found to be very efficient in DMA solvent to furnish excellent yields of cross-coupled functionalized biaryls in short reaction times.     

Enantioselective alpha-arylation of ketones with aryl triflates catalyzed by difluorphos complexes of palladium and nickel

The asymmetric alpha-arylation of ketones with aryl triflates is described, and the use of this electrophile with nickel and palladium catalysts containing a segphos derivative increases substantially the scope of highly enantioselective arylations of ketone enolates. The combination of aryl triflates as reactant, difluorphos as ligand, palladium catalysts for reactions of electron-neutral or electron-rich aryl triflates, and nickel catalysts for reactions of electron-poor aryl triflates led to a series of alpha-arylations of tetralone, indanone, cyclopentanone, and cyclohexanone derivatives. Enantioselectivities ranged from 70% to 98% with 10 examples over 90%. Systematic studies on these alpha-arylations have revealed a number of factors that affect enantioselectivity. Ligands containing biaryl backbones with smaller dihedral angles generate catalysts that react with higher enantioselectivity than related ligands with larger dihedral angles. In addition, faster rates for reactions of aryl triflates versus those for reactions of aryl bromides allow the alpha-arylations of aryl triflates to be conducted at lower temperatures, and this lower temperature improves enantioselectivity. Finally, studies that compare the enantioselectivities of catalytic reactions to those of stoichiometric reactions of isolated [(segphos)Pd(Ar)(Br)], [(segphos)Pd(Ar)(I)], and [(segphos)Ni(C6H4-4-CN)Br] suggest that catalyst decomposition affects enantioselectivity.     

Reductive Buchwald-Hartwig Amination of Nitroarenes with Aryl (pseudo)Halides

De novo catalytic syntheses of diarylamines from a palladium-catalyzed reductive Buchwald-Hartwig amination of nitroarenes with aryl (pseudo)halides is described. The exquisite use of upstream nitroarenes as arylamine surrogates, the judicious selection of bis(pinacolato)diboron (B₂pin₂) as a stoichiometric reducing agent, and wide substrate scope including (hetero)aryl halides (Cl, Br and I) and aryl triflates, constitute the striking features of the current protocol. Moreover, application of this technique to the syntheses of advanced intermediates and active pharmaceutical ingredients also proved successful, thus providing an alternative step-economical approach to the syntheses of diarylamine-incorporated molecules. Preliminary mechanistic investigation demonstrates that an amine and a nitrosoarene intermediates might be involved in this reductive event.     

Four‐Component Borocarbonylation of Vinylarenes Enabled by Cooperative Cu/Pd Catalysis: Access to β‐Boryl Ketones and β‐Boryl Vinyl Esters

We report here a general four‐component synthetic procedure for the preparation of β‐boryl ketones and β‐boryl vinyl esters. Joint catalyzed by palladium and copper catalysts, borocarbonylative reaction between vinylarenes, aryl halides/triflates, B₂Pin₂, and carbon monoxide proceed successfully. A variety of synthetically useful β‐boryl ketones were synthesized in good to high yields by using aryl iodides as the substrates. It is noteworthy that when aryl triflates were applied as the starting materials, β‐boryl vinyl esters were synthesized in a similar manner and with broad functional group tolerance. A rational mechanism for this reaction was also proposed.     

Four-Component Borocarbonylation of Vinylarenes Enabled by Cooperative Cu/Pd Catalysis: Access to β-Boryl Ketones and β-Boryl Vinyl Esters

We report here a general four-component synthetic procedure for the preparation of β-boryl ketones and β-boryl vinyl esters. Joint catalyzed by palladium and copper catalysts, borocarbonylative reaction between vinylarenes, aryl halides/triflates, B₂Pin₂, and carbon monoxide proceed successfully. A variety of synthetically useful β-boryl ketones were synthesized in good to high yields by using aryl iodides as the substrates. It is noteworthy that when aryl triflates were applied as the starting materials, β-boryl vinyl esters were synthesized in a similar manner and with broad functional group tolerance. A rational mechanism for this reaction was also proposed.     

Nickel-catalyzed C-H/C-O coupling of azoles with phenol derivatives

The first nickel-catalyzed C-H bond arylation of azoles with phenol derivatives is described. The new Ni(cod)(2)/dcype catalytic system is active for the coupling of various phenol derivatives such as esters, carbamates, carbonates, sulfamates, triflates, tosylates, and mesylates. With this C-H/C-O biaryl coupling, we synthesized a series of privileged 2-arylazoles, including biologically active alkaloids. Moreover, we demonstrated the utility of the present reaction for functionalizing estrone and quinine.     

Convenient and Efficient Palladium-Catalyzed Coupling Reaction Between Ferroceneboronic Acid and Organic Triflates

A simple and efficient palladium (Pd)–catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling reaction between ferroceneboronic acid and organic triflates for the preparation of monosubstituted ferrocene derivatives has been developed. A systematic study of various solvents, bases, and catalysts revealed that the combination of Pd(PPh₃)₄ (0.025 equiv) and K₃PO₄ (2 equiv) in refluxing dioxane gave reproducible and excellent yields of the coupling products. The reaction could be applied to a wide variety of aryl and vinyl triflates in good to excellent yields, and the electronic and steric effects were observed for ortho-, meta-, and para-substituents of aryl triflates.     

A simple, base-free preparation of S-aryl thioacetates as surrogates for aryl thiols

A mild method for the preparation of S-aryl thioacetates by hetero cross-coupling reactions of aryl bromides or aryl triflates with potassium thioacetate is described. The reaction proceeded smoothly in toluene at 110 °C, mediated by catalytic Pd₂(dba)₃ in combination with CyPF-tBu as the ligand. Neither the presence of a base nor microwave conditions were required. The formed S-aryl thioacetate proved to be stable under flash chromatographic conditions and could be rapidly converted into the corresponding thiol under mildly basic conditions.     

Stereoselective formation of Z-monofluoroalkenes by nickel-catalyzed defluorinative coupling of gem‑difluoroalkenes with lithium organoborates

A method for stereoselective construction of Z-monofluoroalkenes by nickel-catalyzed defluorinative coupling of gem?difluoroalkenes in mild conditions was described. The combination of lithium organoborate and ZnBr₂ generated in situ lithium aryl zincates, which facilitates the transmetalation step of the nickel-catalyzed cross coupling reaction.     

Efficient cross-coupling of aryl chlorides with arylzinc reagents catalyzed by amido pincer complexes of nickel

The nickel-catalyzed Negishi cross-coupling reaction of aryl chlorides with arylzinc compounds was investigated. The nickel complexes with the amido pincer type of ligands exhibited high catalytic activity and good functional group tolerance.     

Nickel-catalyzed synthesis of phosphonium salts

The nickel-catalyzed synthesis of phosphonium salts from aryl halides and triphenylphosphine is reported.The formation of phosphonium salts occurs by the oxidative addition reaction of Ni[P(C₆H₅)₃]₃ on the aryl halides and reaction of the coordinated aryl groups with triphenylphosphine.The influence of substituents on the aromatic nucleus is studied.