Metal-free synthesis of aryl esters by coupling aryl carboxylic acids and aryl boronic acids

A facile synthesis of aryl esters is developed by coupling aryl carboxylic acids and aryl boronic acids in the presence of PhI(OAc)₂ and carbonyl diimidazole. A wide range of functional groups were tolerant to the metal-free reaction condition that led to the desired products in good yields.     

Copper-mediated fluorination of aryl iodides

The synthesis of aryl fluorides has been studied intensively because of the importance of aryl fluorides in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and materials. The stability, reactivity, and biological properties of aryl fluorides can be distinct from those of the corresponding arenes. Methods for the synthesis of aryl fluorides, however, are limited. We report the conversion of a diverse set of aryl iodides to the corresponding aryl fluorides. This reaction occurs with a cationic copper reagent and silver fluoride. Preliminary results suggest this reaction is enabled by a facile reductive elimination from a cationic arylcopper(III) fluoride.     

One-pot synthesis of symmetrical and unsymmetrical aryl sulfides by Pd-catalyzed couplings of aryl halides and thioacetates

Aryl sulfides were obtained from the coupling reaction of S-aryl (or S-alkyl) thioacetates and aryl bromides in the presence of palladium catalyst. This reaction method enables the one-pot synthesis of symmetrical and unsymmetrical diaryl sulfides by employing potassium thioacetate with aryl iodides and aryl bromides.     

Cross-coupling reactions of (1-fluorovinyl)methydiphenylsilane(1) with aryl halides and aryl triflates

The cesium fluoride (CsF)-assisted cross-coupling reaction of (1-fluorovinyl)methyldiphenylsilane (1) with aryl halides and aryl triflates was examined. The reaction with aryl iodides smoothly proceeded to afford the corresponding (1-fluorovinyl)arenes in the presence of a catalytic amount of CuI and Pd(PPh(3))(4) in aprotic polar solvents such as DMF, DMI, DMA, and NMP in good yields. A variety of functional groups (nitro, ester, ketone, and ether) on the aromatic rings can be tolerated under these mild conditions. Aryl iodides are superior to aryl bromides as the coupling reaction partner. The cross-coupling reaction of 1 with aryl triflates instead of aryl halides was also accomplished in the presence of tetrabutylammonium iodide (n-Bu(4)NI) as the additive under similar conditions.     

An efficient synthesis of enantiomerically pure unnatural aryl glycinols and aryl glycines

A quick route to enantiomerically pure unnatural aryl glycinols and aryl glycines has been established based on an asymmetric azidation reaction using a chiral benzosultam auxiliary. The synthesis of aryl glycinols involves three steps starting from arylacetic acids, and the chiral auxiliary can be readily recovered.     

Palladium-catalyzed deacetonative coupling of aryl propargylic alcohols with aryl chlorides in water

A highly efficient and green process for palladium-catalyzed deacetonative coupling of aryl propargylic alcohols with aryl chlorides has been developed. The reaction occurs smoothly in neat water with 2?mol% PdCl₂ as catalyst, and various synthetically useful functional groups, including ether, aldehyde, ketone, and heterocyclics, are well tolerated. Moreover, the reaction could proceed through a consecutive Sonogashira/deacetonative process using 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol and aryl chlorides as coupling partners, affording the symmetric alkynes in good yields.     

Microwave-assisted selenium dioxide oxidation of aryl methyl ketones to aryl glyoxals

We report an improved procedure for the synthesis of phenyl glyoxal and a series of para-substituted aryl glyoxals by microwave-assisted selenium dioxide oxidation. The reaction time has been reduced from several hours to three minutes for activated aryl methyl ketone substrates and 18 min for deactivated substrates, with all reactions affording quantitative conversion into the corresponding aryl glyoxals.     

Palladium-catalyzed oxidative coupling of trialkylamines with aryl iodides leading to alkyl aryl ketones

A new, simple method for selectively synthesizing alkyl aryl ketones has been developed by palladium-catalyzed oxidative coupling of trialkylamines with aryl iodides. In the presence of PdCl(2)(MeCN)(2), TBAB, and ZnO, a variety of aryl iodides underwent an oxidative coupling reaction with tertiary amines and water to afford the corresponding alkyl aryl ketones in moderate to excellent yields. It is noteworthy that this method is the first example of using trialkylamines as the carbonyl sources for constructing alkyl aryl ketone skeletons.     

Preparation and palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl triethylammonium bis(catechol) silicates with aryl triflates

Pentavalent aryl and heteroaryl bis(catechol) silicates undergo palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling with aryl and heteroaryl triflates in the presence of a fluoride source in excellent yields. These solid, air-stable bis(catechol) silicates are prepared from a high-yielding displacement reaction between catechol and an aryl siloxane in the presence of an amine base. The cross-coupling reaction is tolerant of a wide range of electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups. Several examples of di-ortho-substituted triflates are successfully coupled with these reagents.     

Synthesis of aryl azides from aryl halides promoted by Cu2O/tetraethylammonium prolinate

An efficient approach to aryl azides, in short reaction times and good to excellent yields, has been developed via the reaction of aryl halides with sodium azide under Cu₂O/tetraethylammonium prolinate catalysis.     

Palladium-catalyzed amination of aryl nonaflates

The first detailed study of the palladium-catalyzed amination of aryl nonaflates is reported. Use of ligands 2-4 and 6 allows for the catalytic amination of electron-rich and -neutral aryl nonaflates with both primary and secondary amines. With use of Xantphos 5, the catalytic amination of a variety of functionalized aryl nonaflates resulted in excellent yields of anilines; even 2-carboxymethyl aryl nonaflate is effectively coupled with a primary alkylamine. Moderate yields were obtained when coupling halo-aryl nonaflates with a variety of amines, where in most cases the aryl nonaflate reacted in preference to the aryl halide. Overall, aryl nonaflates are an effective alternative to triflates in palladium-catalyzed C-N bond-forming processes due to their increased stability under the reaction conditions.     

Efficient synthesis of sterically crowded biaryls by palladium-phosphinous acid-catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl halides and aryl grignards

A series of sterically hindered biaryls have been obtained by palladium- and nickel-phosphinous acid-catalyzed Kumada-Corriu cross-coupling of ortho-substituted aryl halides and Grignard reagents. This method allows formation of di- and tri-ortho-substituted biaryls in 87-98% yield under mild reaction conditions even when electron-rich aryl chlorides are used. The reaction also proceeds with aryl iodides at -20 degrees C, and under these conditions, functional groups that are generally not compatible with Grignard reagents are tolerated.     

Palladium-catalyzed Mizoroki-Heck reaction of allyl aryl ethers with aryl iodides using phosphine-free hydrazone ligands

Palladium-catalyzed Mizoroki-Heck reaction of allyl aryl ethers with aryl iodides gave aryl cinnamyl ethers using a catalytic amount of Pd(OAc)₂ in DMF at 50 °C with phosphine-free hydrazone as a ligand in good yields.     

Palladium-catalyzed aminosulfonylation of aryl halides

The palladium-catalyzed three-component coupling of aryl iodides, sulfur dioxide, and hydrazines to deliver aryl N-aminosulfonamides is described. The colorless crystalline solid DABCO·(SO(2))(2) was used as a convenient source of sulfur dioxide. The reaction tolerates significant variation of both the aryl iodide and hydrazine coupling partners.     

Novel C-C bond cleavage under mild, neutral conditions: conversion of electron-deficient aryl alkyl ketones to aryl carboxylic esters

A novel, unique way to cleave the carbon-carbon bond in aryl alkyl ketones under mild, neutral conditions is described. Treatment of aryl alkyl ketones in a refluxing mixture of N,N-dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal and methanol for 16 h provided aryl carboxylic esters. The scope and limitations of the reaction are discussed. Useful yields of the reaction can be obtained with electron-deficient aryl groups, and the yields are higher when the alkyl group is larger than a methyl group. Studies toward elucidation of the reaction mechanism led to a proposed mechanism that is consistent with all the observations.     

Rapid, easy copper-free Sonogashira couplings using aryl iodides and activated aryl bromides

We present here an easy, rapid copper-free methodology for the Sonogashira coupling reaction. It works well for a range of aryl iodides and activated aryl bromides.     

Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl triethylammonium bis(catechol) silicates with aryl bromides using microwave irradiation

The scope of the palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of aryl bis(catechol) silicates has been extended to include the coupling of aryl bromides by employing microwave irradiation. This new set of coupling conditions is tolerant of electron-rich and -deficient aryl bromides. In addition, a variety of substituted aryl bis(catechol) silicates have been successfully cross-coupled.     

Copper-mediated cyanation of aryl boronic acids using benzyl cyanide

An efficient copper-mediated synthesis of aryl nitriles from aryl boronic acids has been achieved using benzyl cyanide as a user-friendly cyanide source. Various aryl boronic acids underwent the reaction smoothly, affording the corresponding aryl nitriles in moderate to good yields. tert-Butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) was found to be a critical agent facilitating the cyanation reaction.     

Copper-catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl iodides and aryl acetylenes using microwave heating

An efficient copper-catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl iodides with aryl acetylenes under microwave irradiation is described. The reaction proceeds under microwave heating with 10 mol % CuI and 2 equiv Cs₂CO₃ in 43-87% yields.     

Heck reactions of alkenes with aryl iodides and aryl bromides: Rate-determining steps deduced from a comparative kinetic study of competing and noncompeting reactions

Joint kinetic analysis of competition and noncompetition experiments can provide important information and sometimes a direct answer concerning the rate-determining step of a catalytic reaction. Applying this approach to the Heck reaction has demonstrated that alkenes; reactive aryl iodides; and, contrary to the conventional opinion, unactivated aryl bromides participate in rapid steps of the Heck reaction. For aryl iodides, the rate-determining step includes the dissociation of a C-H bond. At the same time, kinetic data for the dissolution of palladium reacting with aryl bromides suggest that the rate of the catalytic reaction is determined by the slow dissolution of palladium aggregates.