Direct vs Indirect Grafting of Alkyl and Aryl Halides

The direct and indirect electrochemical grafting of alkyl and aryl halides (RX, ArX) on carbon, metal and polymer surfaces is examined. Their electrochemical reduction occurs at highly negative potential in organic solvents and very often produces carbanions because the reduction potentials of RX and ArX are more negative than those of their corresponding radicals. Therefore, direct electrografting of alkyl and aryl radicals generated from RX and ArX is not easy to perform. This obstacle is overcome using aryl radicals derived from the 2,6-dimethylbenzenediazonium salt (2,6-DMBD), which do not react on the electrode surface due to their steric hindrance but react in solution by abstracting an iodine or bromine atom from RX (X=I, Br) or ArI to give alkyl or aryl radicals. As a consequence, alkyl and aryl radicals are generated at very low driving force by diverting the reactivity of aryl radicals derived from an aryl diazonium salt; they attack the electrode surface and form strongly attached organic layers. This strategy applies to the chemical modification of polymers (polyethylene, polymethylmethacrylate) by alkyl halides under heating.     

Nickel-Catalyzed Direct Electrochemical Cross-Coupling between Aryl Halides and Activated Alkyl Halides

The electrochemical reduction of a mixture of aryl halides and activated alkyl halides in DMF in the presence of catalytic amount of NiBr(2)bipy leads to cross-coupling products in good to high yields. The method applies to the synthesis of alpha-aryl ketones, alpha-aryl esters, and allylated compounds from readily available organic halides. Optimization of the process has been obtained by slowly adding the most reactive organic halide (usually the activated alkyl halide) during the electrolysis which is best conducted at 70 degrees C when aryl bromides are involved.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Heteroarylation and Concomitant ortho‐Alkylation of Aryl Iodides

Three‐component couplings were achieved from common aryl halides, alkyl halides, and heteroarenes under palladium and norbornene co‐catalysis. The reaction forges hindered aryl–heteroaryl bonds and introduces ortho‐alkyl groups to aryl rings. Various heterocycles such as oxazoles, thiazoles and thiophenes underwent efficient coupling. The heteroarenes were deprotonated in situ by bases without the assistance of palladium catalysts.     

Highly efficient synthesis of phenols by copper-catalyzed hydroxylation of aryl iodides, bromides, and chlorides

8-Hydroxyquinolin-N-oxide was found to be a very efficient ligand for the copper-catalyzed hydroxylation of aryl iodides, aryl bromides, or aryl chlorides under mild reaction conditions. This methodology provides a direct transformation of aryl halides to phenols and to alkyl aryl ethers. The inexpensive catalytic system showed great functional group tolerance and excellent selectivity.     

Iron-catalyzed Grignard cross-coupling with alkyl halides possessing beta-hydrogens

Tris(acetylacetonato)iron(III) (Fe(acac)(3)) was found to be an efficient catalyst for the cross-coupling reaction between aryl Grignard reagents and alkyl halides possessing beta-hydrogens. The reaction is applicable to secondary alkyl halides as well as primary ones. [reaction: see text]     

Symmetrical and Unsymmetrical Coupling of Alkyl Halides Mediated by Grignard Reaction

A simple method for extending the carbon chain via the coupling of alkyl or aryl halides has been developed. The versatility of this reaction has been demonstrated by symmetrical and unsymmetrical coupling of alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl halides.     

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.     

Organotin reagents supported on ionic liquid: highly efficient catalytic free radical reduction of alkyl halides

Ionic liquid-supported organotin reagents were prepared in good yield and demonstrated a convenient catalytic free radical reduction of alkyl halides. A variety of alkyl and aryl halides could be reduced in high to excellent yields and selectively to afford the desired products with simple work-up procedure.     

Cobalt-Catalyzed Asymmetric Remote Borylation of Alkyl Halides

Enantioselective functionalization of racemic alkyl halides is an efficient strategy to assemble complex chiral molecules, but remains one of the biggest challenges in organic chemistry. The distant and selective activation of unreactive C−H bonds in alkyl halides has received growing interest as it enables rapid generation of molecular complexity from simple building blocks. Here, we reported a cobalt-catalyzed remote borylation of alkyl (pseudo)halides (alkyl−X, X=I, Br, Cl, OTs) with pinacolborane (HBpin) and presented a robust approach for the generation of valuable chiral secondary organoboronates from racemic alkyl halides. This migration borylation reaction is compatible with primary, secondary, and tertiary bromides, offering direct access to a broad range of alkylboronates. The extension of this catalytic system to the borylation of aryl halides was also demonstrated. Preliminary mechanistic studies revealed that this remote borylation involved a radical reaction pathway.     

Copper(II)-catalyzed preparation of alkylindium compounds and applications in cross-coupling reactions both in aqueous media

An efficient water-based method for the synthesis of alkylindium compound in the presence of a catalytic amount of cheap and readily available CuSO₄·5H₂O (10 mol%) was developed. The thus-generated alkylindium compounds effectively underwent palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions with a myriad of aryl halides in aqueous media, leading to the cross-coupled products in modest to high yields. The mildness of the formed alkyl organometallics allowed the tolerance to various important functional groups incorporated in both substrates of alkyl iodides and aryl halides.     

The use of aminoiminomethanesulfinic acid (thiourea dioxide) under phase transfer conditions for generating organochalcogenate anions. Synthesis of sulfides,selenides and tellurides

A procedure is described which allows for the in situ synthesis of arylalkyl, diaryl and dialkylchalcogenides under phase transfer conditions starting from the corresponding diorganodichalcognides. The dichalcogenides are reduced by aminoiminomethanesulfinic acid (thiourea dioxide) in alkaline medium and catalyzed by a quaternary ammonium salt. The reduction proceeds easily for diaryl disulfides and diaryl diselenides at a sodium hydroxide concentration of 13%; diaryl ditellurides require a 50% sodium hydroxide solution to give the aryl tellurolate anion. The dialkyl diselenides and dialkyl ditellurides are more difficult to reduce. The intermediate arylthiolates and arylselenolates are quenched by alkyl and activated aryl halides to give the corresponding sulfides and selenides in high yield (77–97%). The aryltellurolates react with alkyl halides giving the aryl alkyl tellurides in 81–96% yield. The procedure could not be successfully used for the synthesis of dialkylselenides and dialkyl tellurides; low yields and mixture of products were formed.     

Triton B–Mediated Efficient and Convenient Alkoxylation of Activated Aryl and Heteroaryl Halides

A simple and convenient one-pot synthesis of aryl alkyl ethers by the alkoxylation of aryl halides with alcohol in the presence of Triton B as a base is described. The procedure is applicable for a variety of aryl and heteroaryl halides, and yields are very good. The use of a nonmetallic base and solvent-free conditions are important features of the reaction.     

A facile one-pot synthesis of alkyl aryl sulfides from aryl bromides

A convenient one-pot synthetic method for the formation of alkyl aryl sulfides from various alkyl halides and lithium aryl thiolates that are prepared in situ by direct halogen-lithium exchange is reported. In particular, the method overcomes many of the problems encountered in previous reports; it is very quick, catalyst-free, and does not involve use of unstable aryl thiols.     

Palladium-catalyzed alkylation-hydride reduction sequence: synthesis of meta-substituted arenes

A new three-component, palladium-catalyzed domino reaction which gives access to meta-substituted arenes using aryl iodides and primary alkyl halides is reported. Various functional groups are tolerated on both the aryl iodide and alkyl halide. In addition, isotopic labeling studies provide insight into the mechanism of this Catellani-type reaction. [reaction: see text]     

Facile synthesis of aryl(het)cyclopropane catalyzed by palladacycle

Sphos (2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2′,6′-dimethoxy-1,1′-biphenyl) adduct of cyclopalladated ferrocenylimine (IIe) exhibited highly catalytic activity for the Suzuki cross-coupling reaction of cyclopropylboronic acid with aryl(het) halides with 1 mol % catalyst loading. This process was applied to both of aryl and heteroaryl halides (Br and Cl), and made the various arylcyclopropane and heteroarylcyclopropane to be easily synthesized. A variety of substituents on the aryl halides, such as alkyl, acetyl, benzoyl, ether, formyl, carboxylate, methoxy, nitro and cyano were tolerated.     

Utilizing 2‐phenylpropanal as coupling partner for C‐S bond formation via sequential thioarylation and decarbonylation process: A novel strategy for the synthesis of aryl alkyl sulfides

In this study, first direct access to aryl alkyl sulfides employing 2‐phenylpropanal as coupling partner is reported. Diaryl disulfides react with this aldehyde in the presence of morpholine and produce the corresponding sulfide products in high yields. In another part, disulfides are in situ generated in the reaction mixture from aryl halides/CuI/Cyanodithioformate and coupled with 2‐phenylpropanal to access aryl alkyl sulfides.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed Cross‐Electrophile Coupling with Organic Reductants in Non‐Amide Solvents

Cross‐electrophile coupling of aryl halides with alkyl halides has thus far been primarily conducted with stoichiometric metallic reductants in amide solvents. This report demonstrates that the use of tetrakis(dimethylamino)ethylene (TDAE) as an organic reductant enables the use of non‐amide solvents, such as acetonitrile or propylene oxide, for the coupling of benzyl chlorides and alkyl iodides with aryl halides. Furthermore, these conditions work for several electron‐poor heterocycles that are easily reduced by manganese. Finally, we demonstrate that TDAE addition can be used as a control element to ‘hold’ a reaction without diminishing yield or catalyst activity.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed Umpolung Arylation of Ambiphilic α‐Bromoalkyl Boronic Esters

A nickel‐catalyzed reductive arylation of ambiphilic α‐bromoalkyl boronic esters with aryl halides is described. This platform provides an unrecognized opportunity to promote the catalytic umpolung reactivity of ambiphilic reagents with aryl halides, thus unlocking a new cross‐coupling strategy that complements existing methods for the preparation of densely functionalized alkyl‐substituted organometallic reagents from simple and readily accessible precursors.     

Iron‐Mediated Electrophilic Amination of Organozinc Halides using Organic Azides

A wide range of alkyl‐, aryl‐ and heteroarylzinc halides were aminated with highly functionalized alkyl, aryl, and heterocyclic azides. The reaction proceeds smoothly at 50 °C within 1 h in the presence of FeCl₃ (0.5 equiv) to furnish the corresponding secondary amines in good yields. This method was extended to peptidic azides and provided the arylated substrates with full retention of configuration. To demonstrate the utility of this reaction, we prepared two amine derivatives of pharmaceutical relevance using this iron‐mediated electrophilic amination as the key step.