Silver-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of alkyl bromides with alkyl or aryl Grignard reagents

Treatment of secondary or tertiary alkyl bromides with alkyl Grignard reagents in the presence of catalytic amounts of silver bromide and potassium fluoride in CH₂Cl₂ afforded the corresponding cross-coupling products in reasonable yields. Moreover, silver showed catalytic activity for the cross-coupling reactions of alkyl bromides with aryl Grignard reagents.     

Iron-catalyzed cross-coupling of aryltrimethylammonium triflates and alkyl Grignard reagents

Fe(acac)₃ effectively catalyzes reaction of aryltrimethylammonium triflates with β-hydrogen-containing primary or secondary alkyl Grignard reagents in a mixed solvent of THF and NMP at room temperature. A series of functional groups are tolerated under the reaction conditions.     

Nickel 0-catalyzed cross-coupling of alkyl arenesulfonates with aryl Grignard reagents

The nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of neopentyl arenesulfonates with arylmagnesium bromides, involving nucleophilic aromatic substitution of alkyloxysulfonyl groups by aryl nucleophiles, take place in high yields. Optimal efficiencies are obtained by adding 3 + 2 equiv of the Grignard reagent to a mixture of dppfNiCl(2) and the sulfonate in refluxing THF. Neopentyl arenesulfonates are useful sources of the electrophilic aryl groups in these transition metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. Aryl sulfonates are inappropriate due to their ambident reactivity under the reaction conditions. This new cross-coupling reaction can be used for the creative elimination of alkyloxysulfonyl groups from aromatic compounds and for the preparation of unsymmetric terphenyls and oligophenyls.     

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.     

Copper-catalyzed cross-coupling of nonactivated secondary alkyl halides and tosylates with secondary alkyl Grignard reagents

Practical catalytic cross-coupling of secondary alkyl electrophiles with secondary alkyl nucleophiles under Cu catalysis has been realized. The use of TMEDA and LiOMe is critical for the success of the reaction. This cross-coupling reaction occurs via an S(N)2 mechanism with inversion of configuration and therefore provides a general approach for the stereocontrolled formation of C-C bonds between two tertiary carbons from chiral secondary alcohols.     

Manganese-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction between aryl Grignard reagents and alkenyl halides

Aryl Grignard reagents react stereospecifically with alkenyl halides in the presence of manganese chloride (10%) to afford good yields of cross-coupling products.     

Preparation of unsymmetrical terphenyls via the nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling of alkyl biphenylsulfonates with aryl Grignard reagents

Unsymmetrical terphenyl derivatives were prepared by sequential transition metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of neopentyl bromobenzenesulfonates with arylboronic acids and arylmagnesium bromides in good yields. Biphenylsulfonates undergo nickel-catalyzed coupling reactions more rapidly than the corresponding benzenesulfonates. The stepwise palladium- and nickel-catalyzed reaction of the bromobenzenesulfonates appears to be a promising and conceptually straightforward route for preparing unsymmetrical terphenyls.     

Nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling of unactivated alkyl halides and tosylate carrying a functional group with alkyl and phenyl Grignard reagents

By the use of catalytic amounts of a nickel salt and a 1,3-butadiene, primary and secondary alkyl Grignard reagents undergo cross-coupling with alkyl bromides, iodide, and tosylate carrying a functional group such as amide, ester, and ketone at 0 °C in THF. The present procedure provides a simple, convenient, and practical method for construction of carbon chains in the presence of various functional groups. PhMgBr also gave the corresponding coupling product in a moderate yield.     

An unprecedented iron-catalyzed cross-coupling of primary and secondary alkyl Grignard reagents with non-activated aryl chlorides

The use of N-heterocyclic carbene ligands in the iron-catalyzed cross-coupling of alkyl Grignards has allowed, for the first time, coupling of non-activated, electron rich aryl chlorides. Surprisingly, the tetrahydrate of FeCl₂ was found to be a better pre-catalyst than anhydrous FeCl₂. Primary Grignard reagents coupled in excellent yields while secondary Grignard reagents coupled in modest yields. The use of acyclic secondary Grignard reagents resulted in the formation of isomers in addition to the desired product. These isomeric products were formed via reversible β-hydrogen elimination, indicating that the cross-coupling proceeds through an ionic pathway.     

Iron-catalyzed cross-coupling of imidoyl chlorides with Grignard reagents

[reaction: see text] A general, high yielding rapid iron-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction between Grignard reagents and imidoyl chlorides is described. These reactions are typically completed within 5 min, resulting in high yields of 71-96% using 5% iron catalyst in a THF-NMP solvent mixture. Functionalized imidoyl chlorides (e.g., R = CO(2)Me) gave excellent yields (89%).     

Iron-catalyzed cross-coupling of alkenyl sulfides with Grignard reagents

[reaction: see text] The iron-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of alkenyl sulfides with Grignard reagents is described. While the cross-coupling proceeds efficiently at alkenyl-S bonds, almost no cross-coupling takes place at aryl-S bonds, attesting to a unique selectivity of iron catalysis. The beneficial effect of potentially coordinating 2-pyrimidyl group on sulfur is also described.     

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]     

Cobalt-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of alkyl halides with aryl Grignard reagents and their application to sequential radical cyclization/cross-coupling reactions

Reactions of alkyl halides with arylmagnesium bromides in the presence of cobalt(II)(diphosphine) complexes are discussed. Treatment of 1-bromooctane with phenylmagnesium bromide with the aid of a catalytic amount of CoCl₂(dppp) [DPPP=1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane] yielded octylbenzene in good yield. The reaction mechanism would include single electron transfer from an electron-rich cobalt complex to alkyl halide to generate the corresponding alkyl radical. The mechanism was justified by CoCl₂(dppe)-catalyzed [DPPE=1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane] sequential radical cyclization/cross-coupling reactions of 6-halo-1-hexene derivatives that yielded benzyl-substituted cyclopentane skeletons.     

Highly ortho-selective cross-coupling of dichlorobenzene derivatives with Grignard reagents

Highly ortho-selective cross-coupling of dichlorobenzene derivatives with Grignard reagents was realized using a combination of Pd2(dba)3 and PCy3. Use of hydroxylated terphenylphosphines further improved the reactions of dichlorophenol and dichloroaniline.     

Cobalt-catalyzed cross-coupling of alkynyl Grignard reagents with alkenyl triflates

Alkenyl triflates in combination with Co(acac)(3) as a catalyst were found to be excellent coupling partners of alkynyl Grignard reagents, where no special additives (even a phosphine ligand) but a common solvent, THF, are required to obtain variously substituted enynes.     

Kinetic resolution of racemic Grignard reagents by nickel-catalyzed asymmetric Grignard cross-coupling

Racemic Grignard reagents, 2-phenylpropylmagnesium chloride and 2-norbornylmagnesium chloride were kinetically resolved by asymmetric cross-coupling with vinyl bromides in the presence of chiral phosphine-nickel catalysts to give optically active coupling products (~37% ee) and carboxylic acids after carbonation with carbon dioxide.     

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.     

Synthesis of nickel-salicylideneimines complexes and catalyzing cross-coupling reaction of aryl halides and Grignard reagents

A series of nickel-salicylideneimines complexes were prepared in wild way and these complexes were stable to air and moisture. The nickel-salicylideneimines complexes exhibited good activity in catalyzing Grignard reagents with aryl halids to biphenyl derivatives and the more fluorine atoms contained by N-substituted benzene moiety could function the better activity.     

Acceleration of CuI-catalyzed coupling reaction of alkyl halides with aryl Grignard reagents using lithium chloride

In the presence of LiCl, CuI-catalyzed coupling reaction of R(alkyl)-X with Ar(aryl)MgBr at rt was completed within 2 h. Effective leaving groups X in R-X were Br, I, OTs, but not Cl. Grignard reagents ArMgBr with both standard and bulky Ar such as 2-MeC₆H₄, 2-MeOC₆H₄, and 2,6-(Me)₂C₆H₃ afforded the desired products in good yields. Ester and cyano groups in R-X were tolerated. Coupling reaction with R(alkyl)-MgBr proceeded as well.