Ni- or Cu-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of alkyl fluorides with Grignard reagents

n-Octyl fluoride underwent a cross-coupling reaction with n-propylmagnesium bromide in the presence of 1,3-butadiene using NiCl2 as a catalyst at room temperature to give undecane in moderate yields. This alkyl-alkyl cross-coupling proceeded more efficiently when CuCl2 was employed instead of NiCl2. Addition of 1,3-butadiene dramatically improved the yields of the coupling products from primary alkyl Grignard reagents in both Ni- and Cu-catalyzed reactions. Alkyl fluorides efficiently reacted with tertiary alkyl and phenyl Grignard reagents using CuCl2 in the absence of 1,3-butadiene to afford the coupling products in high yields. The competitive reaction of a mixture of alkyl halides (R-X; X = F, Cl, Br) with nC5H11MgBr showed that the reactivities of the halides increase in the order R-Cl < R-F < R-Br. In contrast, in the Cu-catalyzed reaction with PhMgBr, the reactivities increase in the order R-Cl < R-Br < R-F.     

A structure-activity study of Ni-catalyzed alkyl-alkyl Kumada coupling. Improved catalysts for coupling of secondary alkyl halides

A structure-activity study was carried out for Ni catalyzed alkyl-alkyl Kumada-type cross coupling reactions. A series of new nickel(II) complexes including those with tridentate pincer bis(amino)amide ligands ((R)N(2)N) and those with bidentate mixed amino-amide ligands ((R)NN) were synthesized and structurally characterized. The coordination geometries of these complexes range from square planar, tetrahedral, to square pyramidal. The complexes had been examined as precatalysts for cross coupling of nonactivated alkyl halides, particularly secondary alkyl iodides, with alkyl Grignard reagents. Comparison was made to the results obtained with the previously reported Ni pincer complex [((Me)N(2)N)NiCl]. A transmetalation site in the precatalysts is necessary for the catalysis. The coordination geometries and spin-states of the precatalysts have a small or no influence. The work led to the discovery of several well-defined Ni catalysts that are significantly more active and efficient than the pincer complex [((Me)N(2)N)NiCl] for the coupling of secondary alkyl halides. The best two catalysts are [((H)NN)Ni(PPh(3))Cl] and [((H)NN)Ni(2,4-lutidine)Cl]. The improved activity and efficiency was attributed to the fact that phosphine and lutidine ligands in these complexes can dissociate from the Ni center during catalysis. The activation of alkyl halides was shown to proceed via a radical mechanism.     

Nickel complexes incorporating an amido phosphine chelate with a pendant amine arm: synthesis, structure, and catalytic Kumada coupling

A series of organonickel(II) complexes incorporating an amido phosphine ligand tethered with an amino pendant have been prepared and characterized. Deprotonation of N-(dimethylaminoethyl)-2-diphenylphosphinoaniline (H[PNN]) with one equivalent of n-BuLi in ethereal or hydrocarbon solutions at -35 °C generates cleanly dimeric {Li[PNN]}(2) as yellow crystals. The reaction of NiCl(2)(DME) with {Li[PNN]}(2) in THF at -35 °C affords green crystalline [PNN]NiCl. Treating [PNN]NiCl with NaX in acetone solutions gives [PNN]NiX (X = Br, I). Alkylation or arylation of [PNN]NiCl with appropriate Grignard reagents in THF at -35 °C produces red crystalline [PNN]NiR (R = Me, Et, i-Bu, n-hexyl, CH(2)Ph, Ph). The chloride complex [PNN]NiCl was found to be an active catalyst precursor for Kumada coupling reactions of PhX (X = I, Br, Cl) with aryl or alkyl Grignard reagents, including those containing β-hydrogen atoms. The X-ray structures of {Li[PNN]}(2) and [PNN]NiX (X = Cl, Br, Me, Et, n-hexyl) are reported.     

Sequential One‐Pot Addition of Excess Aryl‐Grignard Reagents and Electrophiles to O‐Alkyl Thioformates

The sequential addition of aromatic Grignard reagents to O‐alkyl thioformates proceeded to completion within 30 s to give aryl benzylic sulfanes in good yields. This reaction may begin with the nucleophilic attack of the Grignard reagent onto the carbon atom of the O‐alkyl thioformates, followed by the elimination of ROMgBr to generate aromatic thioaldehydes, which then react with a second molecule of the Grignard reagent at the sulfur atom to form arylsulfanyl benzylic Grignard reagents. To confirm the generation of aromatic thioaldehydes, the reaction between O‐alkyl thioformates and phenyl Grignard reagent was carried out in the presence of cyclopentadiene. As a result, hetero‐Diels–Alder adducts of the thioaldehyde and the diene were formed. The treatment of a mixture of the thioformate and phenyl Grignard reagent with iodine gave 1,2‐bis(phenylsulfanyl)‐1,2‐diphenyl ethane as a product, which indicated the formation of arylsulfanyl benzylic Grignard reagents in the reaction mixture. When electrophiles were added to the Grignard reagents that were generated in situ, four‐component coupling products, that is, O‐alkyl thioformates, two molecules of Grignard reagents, and electrophiles, were obtained in moderate‐to‐good yields. The use of silyl chloride or allylic bromides gave the adducts within 5 min, whereas the reaction with benzylic halides required more than 30 min. The addition to carbonyl compounds was complete within 1 min and the use of lithium bromide as an additive enhanced the yields of the four‐component coupling products. Finally, oxiranes and imines also participated in the coupling reaction.     

Direct Arylation/Alkylation/Magnesiation of Benzyl Alcohols in the Presence of Grignard Reagents via Ni-, Fe-, or Co-Catalyzed sp(3) C-O Bond Activation

Direct application of benzyl alcohols (or their magnesium salts) as electrophiles in various reactions with Grignard reagents has been developed via transition metal-catalyzed sp(3) C-O bond activation. Ni complex was found to be an efficient catalyst for the first direct cross coupling of benzyl alcohols with aryl/alkyl Grignard reagents, while Fe, Co, or Ni catalysts could promote the unprecedented conversion of benzyl alcohols to benzyl Grignard reagents in the presence of (n)hexylMgCl. These methods offer straightforward pathways to transform benzyl alcohols into a variety of functionalities.     

Cobalt-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of alkyl halides with allylic and benzylic Grignard reagents and their application to tandem radical cyclization/cross-coupling reactions

Details of cobalt-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of alkyl halides with allylic Grignard reagents are disclosed. A combination of cobalt(II) chloride and 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (DPPE) or 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (DPPP) is suitable as a precatalyst and allows secondary and tertiary alkyl halides--as well as primary ones--to be employed as coupling partners for allyl Grignard reagents. The reaction offers a facile synthesis of quaternary carbon centers, which has practically never been possible with palladium, nickel, and copper catalysts. Benzyl, methallyl, and crotyl Grignard reagents can all couple with alkyl halides. The benzylation definitely requires DPPE or DPPP as a ligand. The reaction mechanism should include the generation of an alkyl radical from the parent alkyl halide. The mechanism can be interpreted in terms of a tandem radical cyclization/cross-coupling reaction. In addition, serendipitous tandem radical cyclization/cyclopropanation/carbonyl allylation of 5-alkoxy-6-halo-4-oxa-1-hexene derivatives is also described. The intermediacy of a carbon-centered radical results in the loss of the original stereochemistry of the parent alkyl halides, creating the potential for asymmetric cross-coupling of racemic alkyl halides.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of（E）—and（Z）—1,2—Disubstituted Ethene from Polymer—Supported vinylic Selenide

This letter describes a method for the stereoselective synthesis of polymer-supported vinylic selenides and their applications to synthesis of(E)-and(Z)-1,2-disubstituted ethenes on solid-phase by the couplig reaction with Grignard reagents under the catalysis of NiCL2(PPh3)2.     

(Z)-a-Selanyl Alkenyl Grignard Reagents as Convenient Precursors for Stereoselective Synthesis of Trisubstituted Alkenes

Many biologically active compounds occurring in nature possess the structural skeleton of trisubstituted alkenes1-3. Difunctional group reagents, which have two different functional groups linked to the olefinic carbon atoms, for example, Se-Zr, Se-B, Se-Sn play important roles in organic synthesis, especially in developing a lot of convenient methods for stereoselective synthesis of substituted alkenes4. Recently, Tingoli et al.5 reported that (Z)-a-selanylvinyl p-toluenesulfonates can u…     

(Z)-α-Selanyl Alkenyl Grignard Reagents as Convenient Precursors for Stereoselective Synthesis of Trisubstituted Alkenes

(Z)-α-Selanyl alkenyl Grignard reagents 2 were prepared conveniently by treatment of (-bromovinylselenides 1 with magnesium filings in THF. Intermediates 2 were reacted with alkyl iodides in the presence of CuI or Pd(PPh3)4 to afford (Z)-1,2-disubstituted vinylselenides 3, which were cross-coupled with Grignard reagents in the presence of (PPh3)2NiCl2 to give trisubstituted alkenes 4 stereoselectively in good yields.     

Stereospecific Synthesis of Methyl Vinyl Ketones

A stereospecific synthesis of enones 3 by coupling reaction of α-acetoxy alkyl methyl vinyl ketones 2 and Gilman or Grignard reagents in the presence of a catalytic amount of copper (I) salt at low temperature, is described.     

Novel Kumada coupling reaction to access cyclic (2-azaallyl)stannanes. Cycloadditions of cyclic nonstabilized 2-azaallyllithium species derived from cyclic (2-azaallyl)stannanes

A Kumada cross-coupling reaction involving organomagnesium reagents and (3-methylthio-2-azaallyl)stannanes with a Ni(0) catalyst provided cyclic nonstabilized (2-azaallyl)stannanes in moderate to good yields. Primary alkyl, aryl, and allylic organomagnesium reagents can be used as the cross-coupling partner. In general, NiCl(2)dppp in toluene at room temperature provided the shortest reaction times and most consistent yields. The azomethine ylides and 2-azaallyllithium species derived from these stannanes were shown to undergo efficient [3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions to provide azabicyclo[n.2.1]alkanes as the endo cycloadducts. These cycloadducts were found to be useful as starting materials for further elaboration into aza-bridged bicyclic natural and unnatural products of biological interest. Although cyclic 2-azaallyllithium species have been generated previously, this work reports the first generation and cycloaddition of entirely nonstabilized 2-azaallyllithium species. In addition a novel extension of the Kumada coupling was developed to allow for the preparation of the cyclic (2-azaallyl)stannanes, which are precursors to the nonstabilized 2-azaallyllithium species.     

Grignard Reactions Involving Halogenated Pyrimidines

Generally, there are two pathways that involve Grignard reagents and halogenated pyrimidines. The more common approach shows cross‐coupling reactions that utilize a Grignard reagent, either alkyl or aryl, with a variety of halogenated pyrimidines. Typically, these reactions are catalyzed by Fe, Co, Ni, Pd, Mn, or Zn species. Alternatively, but to a lesser degree, halogenated pyrimidines form pyrimidyl Grignard reagents, which then further react either in a cross‐coupling manner or via a standard addition process. Finally, there are a few examples in which Grignard reagents react with pyrimidines via an addition process that does not involve a halogen.     

First Kumada reaction of alkyl chlorides using N-heterocyclic carbene/palladium catalyst systems

For the first time it is shown that N-heterocyclic carbenes are suitable ligands for the palladium-catalyzed coupling of alkyl chlorides with aryl Grignard reagents. A variety of simple as well as functionalized primary alkyl chlorides provide the corresponding alkyl benzenes in general in good to very good yield. By comparing the 1,3-dimesitylimidazol-2-ylidene (IMes) palladium(0) naphthoquinone complex with the previously known palladium phosphine catalyst for the model coupling reaction of 1-chlorohexane with phenylmagnesium bromide it is demonstrated that the new catalyst system is superior.     

Nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of alkynyl bromides with Grignard reagents

We describe a convenient method for the synthesis of 1,2-disubstituted acetylenes via a cross-coupling reaction of （bromoethynyl）benzene with Grignard reagents. The reaction of （bromoethynyl）benzene （1 mmol） with Grignard reagent （1.3 mmol） mediated by NiCl2 （4 mol%） and （p-CH3Ph）3P （8 mol%） in THF could produce 1,2-disubstituted acetylenes in good yields at room temperature.     

Iron(III) salen-type catalysts for the cross-coupling of aryl Grignards with alkyl halides bearing beta-hydrogens

Iron(III) salen and related complexes are active catalysts for the coupling, under mild and simple reaction conditions, of aryl Grignard reagents with primary and secondary alkyl halide substrates bearing beta-hydrogens.     

Iron-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions between a bicyclic alkenyl triflate and Grignard reagents

Fe-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions between a bicyclic alkenyl triflate and Grignard reagents were investigated. Under the optimized reaction conditions, various 2-substituted bicyclic alkenes were synthesized in moderate to excellent yields (52-93%). This method provided an efficient route for the synthesis of 2-substituted bicyclic alkenes with secondary alkyl groups which cannot be synthesized using previous methods such as Pd-catalyzed coupling reactions and lithium-halide exchange reactions.     

Studies on the Cu(I)-catalyzed regioselective anti-carbometallation of secondary terminal propargylic alcohols

A highly regioselective Cu(I)-catalyzed anti-carbometallation of secondary terminal propargylic alcohols with 1 degrees alkyl or aryl Grignard reagents affording 2-substituted allylic alcohols was developed. By using this method, optically active allylic alcohols can be prepared from the optically active propargylic alcohols without obvious loss of the enantiopurity. The cyclic organometallic intermediate formed may undergo an iodination or a Pd(0)-catalyzed coupling reaction to afford stereo-defined allylic alcohols.     

Simple iron-amine catalysts for the cross-coupling of aryl Grignards with alkyl halides bearing beta-hydrogens

Mixtures of iron(III) chloride and appropriate amine ligands are active catalysts for the coupling of aryl Grignard reagents with primary and secondary alkyl halide substrates bearing beta-hydrogens, under mild and simple reaction conditions.     

Nickel-phosphine complex-catalyzed Grignard coupling—II : Grignard coupling of heterocyclic compounds

A general, versatile method for alkylation and arylation of haloheterocyclic compounds is reported. In the presence of a catalytic quantity of [NiCl₂(dppp)], where dppp stands for Ph₂P(CH₂)₃PPh₂, bromothiophenes, halopyridines, haloquinoline, and haloisoquinolines reacted with alkyl and aryl Grignard reagents at room temperature or at ether refluxing temperature to give the cross-coupling products. The coupling reaction has been applied to the synthesis of isoquinoline alkaloids. Reactivities of 2-thienyl and 2-pyridyl Grignard reagents have also been examined.     

Kumada-Corriu reactions of alkyl halides with alkynyl nucleophiles

[reaction: see text] Pd(2)(dba)(3)-Ph(3)P-catalyzed Kumada-Corriu coupling reactions of unactivated alkyl bromides or iodides with an alkynyl nucleophile furnish C(sp)-C(sp)3 bond formation. Alkynyl nucleophiles can be alkynyllithiums or the corresponding Grignard reagents. The superior performance of Ph(3)P ligand over the trialkylphosphine ligands indicates that this cross-coupling reaction may be a reductive-elimination-controlled process.