2,5‐Bis(2‐(diphenylphosphino)phenyl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole ligands and their Cu(I) complexes for Sonogashira coupling reaction

Two diphosphane ligands – 2,5‐bis(2‐(diphenylphosphino)‐5‐R)phenyl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole ( L1 , R = H, L2 , R = OMe) and their binuclear complexes, L1Cu and L2Cu , were prepared and characterized. The molecular structures of L1Cu and L2Cu , as perchlorate salts, were established by X‐ray crystallography, which showed them to be binuclear complexes with each Cu atom tetrahedrally coordinated by two P atoms and two N atoms. The ligands and their Cu(I) complexes catalyzed Sonogashira coupling reactions of iodobenzene with phenylacetylene in the presence of K₂CO₃ under Pd‐free conditions. Coupling reactions catalyzed by L1 or L2 with Cu(MeCN)₄ClO₄ in situ exhibited better yields than those by the corresponding Cu(I) complexes L1Cu or L2Cu . Detailed studies showed L1 or L2 with Cu(MeCN)₄ClO₄ to be suitable catalysts for the coupling reaction of terminal alkynes and aryl halides. The coupling reactions of aryl iodides with electron‐withdrawing groups showed better results. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.