Pd-catalyzed intermolecular amidation of aryl halides: the discovery that xantphos can be trans-chelating in a palladium complex

A general method for the intermolecular coupling of aryl halides and amides using a Xantphos/Pd catalyst is described. This system displays good functional group compatibility, and the desired C-N bond forming process proceeds in good to excellent yields with 1-4 mol % of the Pd catalyst. Additionally, the arylation of sulfonamides, oxazolidinones, and ureas is reported. The efficiency of these transformations was found to be highly dependent on reaction concentrations and catalyst loadings. A Pd complex resulting from oxidative addition of 4-bromobenzonitrile, (Xantphos)Pd(4-cyanophenyl)(Br) (II), was prepared in one step from Xantphos, Pd(2)(dba)(3), and the aryl bromide. Complex II proved to be an active catalyst for the coupling between 4-bromobenzonitrile and benzamide. X-ray crystallographic analysis of II revealed a rare trans-chelating bisphosphine-Pd(II) structure with a large bite angle of 150.7 degrees.     

Pd(PhCN)(2)Cl(2)/P(t-Bu)(3): a versatile catalyst for Sonogashira reactions of aryl bromides at room temperature

[reaction: see text] Pd(PhCN)(2)Cl(2)/P(t-Bu)(3) serves as an efficient and a versatile catalyst for room-temperature Sonogashira reactions of aryl bromides.     

Combined C-H functionalization/C-N bond formation route to carbazoles

A new method in which a series of substituted carbazoles is efficiently produced by the combination of an amide and an arene is described. The key feature of this method is the palladium-catalyzed tandem directed C-H functionalization and amide arylation. The method tolerates substitution on either ring of the biaryl amide substrates, and the products can be assembled in a simple two-step protocol from readily available reagents. The Pd(0) species generated are reoxidized to Pd(II) in the presence of Cu(OAc)2 and an atmosphere of oxygen.     

New ammonia equivalents for the Pd-catalyzed amination of aryl halides

[reaction: see text]. LiN(SiMe3)2, Ph3SiNH2, and LiNH2 can be be used as ammonia equivalents for the Pd-catalyzed coupling of aryl halides. Using these amine derivatives, simple anilines, including ortho-substituted ones, as well as di- and triarylamines can be readily prepared.     

A domino copper-catalyzed C-O coupling-Claisen rearrangement process

A practical method for the diastereoselective generation of two adjacent quarternary stereocenters by combining a copper-catalyzed C-O coupling reaction with a subsequent Claisen rearrangement in a one-pot domino process is described. Furthermore, an experimentally simple method for the stereoselective synthesis of a variety of different types of vinyl ethers is delineated using the same catalyst system.     

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.     

An extremely active catalyst for the Negishi cross-coupling reaction

A new catalyst system for the Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling of organozinc reagents with aryl halides (Negishi coupling) has been developed. This system permits efficient preparation of hindered biaryls (tri- and tetra-ortho-substituted), functions effectively at low levels of catalyst, and tolerates a wide range of functional groups and heterocyclic substrates. A systematic study of ligand structure was performed and was correlated with catalyst activity.