Direct C(sp2)C(sp3) Cross-Coupling of Diaryl Zinc Reagents with Benzylic, Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Alkyl Halides

α-Halocarbonyls as a Valuable Functionalized Tertiary Alkyl Source

This review introduces the synthetic organic chemical value of α-bromocarbonyl compounds with tertiary carbons. This α-bromocarbonyl compound with a tertiary carbon has been used primarily only as a radical initiator in atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) reactions. However, with the recent development of photo-radical reactions (around 2010), research on the use of α-bromocarbonyl compounds as tertiary alkyl radical precursors became popular (around 2012). As more examples were reported, α-bromocarbonyl compounds were studied not only as radicals but also for their applications in organometallic and ionic reactions. That is, α-bromocarbonyl compounds act as nucleophiles as well as electrophiles. The carbonyl group of α-bromocarbonyl compounds is also attractive because it allows the skeleton to be converted after the reaction, and it is being applied to total synthesis. In our survey until 2022, α-bromocarbonyl compounds can be used to perform a full range of reactions necessary for organic synthesis, including multi-component reactions, cross-coupling, substitution, cyclization, rearrangement, stereospecific reactions, asymmetric reactions. α-Bromocarbonyl compounds have created a new trend in tertiary alkylation, which until then had limited reaction patterns in organic synthesis. This review focuses on how α-bromocarbonyl compounds can be used in synthetic organic chemistry.

Visible-Light-Induced PhI(OAc)2-Mediated Alkylation of Heteroarenes with Simple Alkanes and Ethers

The direct alkylation of heteroarenes with alkanes has been successfully achieved through visible-light-induced hypervalent iodine-mediated C-H functionalization of both coupling partners at ambient temperatures. This reaction proceeds via the in situ generation of nucleophilic alkyl radicals from alkanes through hydrogen atom transfer (HAT), followed by a Minisci-type reaction with heteroarenes. These mild reaction conditions have demonstrated their suitability for the alkylation of a wide range of heterocycles, including azoles, pyridines, quinolines, isoquinolines, and quinoxalinones.

General alkyl fluoride functionalization via short-lived carbocation-organozincate ion pairs

Fluorinated organic compounds are frequently used across the chemical and life sciences. Although a large, structurally diverse pool of alkyl fluorides is nowadays available, synthetic applications trail behind the widely accepted utility of other halides. We envisioned that C(sp2)-C(sp3) cross-coupling reactions of alkyl fluorides with fluorophilic organozinc compounds should be possible through a heterolytic mechanism that involves short-lived ion pairs and uses the stability of the Zn-F bond as the thermodynamic driving force. This would be mechanistically different from previously reported radical reactions and overcome long-standing limitations of organometallic cross-coupling methodology, including competing β-hydride elimination, homodimerization and hydrodefluorination. Here, we show a practical Csp3-F bond functionalization method that expands the currently restricted synthetic space of unactivated primary, secondary and tertiary C(sp3)-F bonds but also uses benzylic, propargylic and acyl fluorides. Many functional groups and sterically demanding substrates are tolerated, which allows practical carbon-carbon bond formation and late-stage functionalization.

Transition-Metal-Free Synthesis of Polyfluoro-Polyarylmethanes via Direct Cross-Coupling of Polyfluoroarenes and Benzyl Chlorides

The transition-metal-free direct cross-coupling between polyfluoroarenes and benzyl chlorides is reported. In this strategy, a variety of polyfluoro di-, tri- and tetra-arylmethanes was efficiently prepared with good to excellent yields in the presence of Mg turnings via a one-pot procedure. Significantly, this method provides a general approach for the synthesis of polyfluorinated polyarylmethanes.

Air-Stable PdI Dimer Enabled Remote Functionalization: Access to Fluorinated 1,1-Diaryl Alkanes with Unprecedented Speed

While remote functionalization via chain walking has the potential to enable access to molecules via novel disconnections, such processes require relatively long reaction times and can be in need of elevated temperatures. This work features a remote arylation in less than 10 min reaction time at room temperature over a distance of up to 11 carbons. The unprecedented speed is enabled by the air-stable PdI dimer [Pd(μ-I)(PCy2 t Bu)]2 , which in contrast to its Pt Bu3 counterpart does not trigger direct coupling at the initiation site, but regioconvergent and chemoselective remote functionalization to yield valuable fluorinated 1,1-diaryl alkanes. Our combined experimental and computational studies rationalize the origins of switchability, which are primarily due to differences in dispersion interactions.

Atom-efficient transition-metal-free arylation of N,O-acetals using diarylzinc reagents through Zn/Zn cooperativity

Exploiting the cooperative action of Lewis acid Zn(C₆F₅)₂ with diarylzinc reagents, the efficient arylation of N,O-acetals to access diarylmethylamines is reported. Reactions take place under mild reaction conditions without the need for transtion-metal catalysis. Mechanistic investigations have revealed that Zn(C₆F₅)₂ not only acts as a Lewis acid activator, but also enables the regeneration of nucleophilic ZnAr₂ species, allowing a limiting 50 mol% to be employed.

Operating via a special type of Zn/Zn′ cooperation, a new transition-metal free and atom efficient method of arylating N,O-acetals has been developed combining nucleophilic ZnPh₂ with Lewis acidic Zn(C₆F₅)₂.

Organozinc-mediated direct cross-coupling under microwave irradiation

We report a direct cross-coupling reaction between (het)aryl pivalates/tosylates and di(het)arylzinc species in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran/ N-methyl pyrrolidone (1:1), which occurs via C–O bond cleavage under microwave irradiation. The reaction takes place smoothly in short reaction times without the addition of any catalyst or ligand. The reaction is suitable for a broad scope of substrates and exhibits good functional group compatibility, utilizes a simple work-up procedure, and gives the desired products in high purity.

Nickel-catalyzed reductive benzylation of tertiary alkyl halides with benzyl chlorides and chloroformates

We report a Ni-catalyzed cross-electrophile coupling of benzyl chlorides and chloroformates with unactivated tertiary alkyl halides to forge the challenging benzylated all C(sp³)-quaternary carbon centers.

Formation of allylated quaternary carbon centers via C-O/C-O bond fragmentation of oxalates and allyl carbonates

Disclosed herein emphasizes Fe-promoted cross-electrophile allylation of tertiary alkyl oxalates with allyl carbonates that generates all C(sp3)-quaternary centers. The reaction involves fragmentation of tertiary alkyl oxalate C-O bonds to give tertiary alkyl radical intermediates, addition of the radicals to less hindered alkene terminals, and subsequent cleavage of the allyl C-O bonds. Allylation with 2-aryl substituted allyl carbonates was mediated by Zn/MgCl2, and Fe is used to promote the radical addition efficiency. By introduction of activated alkenes, a three-component radical cascade reaction took place.

Boron-nitrogen substituted dihydroindeno[1,2-b]fluorene derivatives as acceptors in organic solar cells

The electrophilic borylation of 2,5-diarylpyrazines results in the formation of boron-nitrogen doped dihydroindeno[1,2-b]fluorene which can be synthesized using standard Schlenk techniques and worked up and handled readily under atmospheric conditions. Through transmetallation via diarylzinc reagents a series of derivatives were synthesized which show broad visible to near-IR light absorption profiles that highlight the versatility of this BN substituted core for use in optoelectronic devices. The synthesis is efficient, scalable and allows for tuning through changes in substituents on the planar heterocyclic core and at boron. Exploratory evaluation in organic solar cell devices as non-fullerene acceptors gave power conversion efficiencies of 2%.

Ester Formation via Symbiotic Activation Utilizing Trichloroacetimidate Electrophiles

Trichloroacetimidates are useful reagents for the synthesis of esters under mild conditions that do not require an exogenous promoter. These conditions avoid the undesired decomposition of substrates with sensitive functional groups that are often observed with the use of strong Lewis or Brønsted acids. With heating, these reactions have been extended to benzyl esters without electron-donating groups. These inexpensive and convenient methods should find application in the formation of esters in complex substrates.

Exploiting Synergistic Effects in Organozinc Chemistry for Direct Stereoselective C-Glycosylation Reactions at Room Temperature

Pairing a range of bis(aryl) zinc reagents ZnAr₂ with the stronger Lewis acidic [(ZnAr^F₂ )] (Ar^F =C₆ F₅ ), enables highly stereoselective cross-coupling between glycosyl bromides and ZnAr₂ without the use of a transition metal. Reactions occur at room temperature with excellent levels of stereoselectivity, where ZnAr^F₂ acts as a non-coupling partner although its presence is crucial for the execution of the C(sp² )-C(sp³ ) bond formation process. Mechanistic studies have uncovered a unique synergistic partnership between the two zinc reagents, which circumvents the need for transition-metal catalysis or forcing reaction conditions. Key to the success of the coupling is the avoidance of solvents that act as Lewis bases versus diarylzinc compounds (e.g. THF).

Transforming Benzylic Amines into Diarylmethanes: Cross-Couplings of Benzylic Pyridinium Salts via C-N Bond Activation

A nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling of benzylic pyridinium salts with arylboronic acids was developed. Coupled with chemoselective pyridinium formation, this method allows benzyl primary amines to be efficiently converted to di(hetero)arylmethanes. Excellent heteroaryl and functional group tolerance is observed, and a one-pot procedure enables benzylic amines to be converted to diarylmethanes directly.

Nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling of β-carbonyl alkenyl pivalates with arylzinc chlorides

The reaction of β-carbonyl alkenyl pivalates with arylzinc reagents was carried out via nickel-catalyzed C–O bond cleavage, forming 3-aryl-substituted α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds in moderate to excellent yields.

A Zinc Catalyzed C(sp3 )-C(sp2 ) Suzuki-Miyaura Cross-Coupling Reaction Mediated by Aryl-Zincates

The Suzuki-Miyaura (SM) reaction is one of the most important methods for C-C bond formation in chemical synthesis. In this communication, we show for the first time that the low toxicity, inexpensive element zinc is able to catalyze SM reactions. The cross-coupling of benzyl bromides with aryl borates is catalyzed by ZnBr2 , in a process that is free from added ligand, and is compatible with a range of functionalized benzyl bromides and arylboronic acid pinacol esters. Initial mechanistic investigations indicate that the selective in situ formation of triaryl zincates is crucial to promote selective cross-coupling reactivity, which is facilitated by employing an arylborate of optimal nucleophilicity.

Organozinc-Mediated Direct C-C Bond Formation via C-N Bond Cleavage of Ammonium Salts

We report a direct cross-coupling reaction between diarylzinc (Ar₂ Zn) and aryltrimethylammonium salts (ArNMe₃⁺ ⋅^- OTf) in the presence of LiCl, via C-N bond cleavage. The reaction takes place smoothly upon heating in THF without any external catalyst, enabling an efficient and chemoselective formation of biaryl products. Mechanistic studies indicate that the reaction proceeds through a single electron transfer route.

Palladium-Catalyzed Cross Coupling of Secondary and Tertiary Alkyl Bromides with a Nitrogen Nucleophile

We report a new class of catalytic reaction: the thermal substitution of a secondary and or tertiary alkyl halide with a nitrogen nucleophile. The alkylation of a nitrogen nucleophile with an alkyl halide is a classical method for the construction of C-N bonds, but traditional substitution reactions are challenging to achieve with a secondary and or tertiary alkyl electrophile due to competing elimination reactions. A catalytic process could address this limitation, but thermal, catalytic coupling of alkyl halides with a nitrogen nucleophile and any type of catalytic coupling of an unactivated tertiary alkyl halide with a nitrogen nucleophile are unknown. We report the coupling of unactivated secondary and tertiary alkyl bromides with benzophenone imines to produce protected primary amines in the presence of palladium ligated by the hindered trialkylphosphine Cy₂t-BuP. Mechanistic studies indicate that this amination of alkyl halides occurs by a reversible reaction to form a free alkyl radical.

Highly Emissive Far Red/Near-IR Fluorophores Based on Borylated Fluorene-Benzothiadiazole Donor-Acceptor Materials

Stille, Suzuki-Miyaura and Negishi cross-coupling reactions of bromine-functionalised borylated precursors enable the facile, high yielding, synthesis of borylated donor-acceptor materials that contain electron-rich aromatic units and/or extended effective conjugation lengths. These materials have large Stokes shifts, low LUMO energies, small band-gaps and significant fluorescence emission >700 nm in solution and when dispersed in a host polymer.

Copper-catalyzed arylation of alkyl halides with arylaluminum reagents

We report a Cu-catalyzed coupling between triarylaluminum reagents and alkyl halides to form arylalkanes. The reaction proceeds in the presence of N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-o-phenylenediamine (NN-1) as a ligand in combination with CuI as a catalyst. This catalyst system enables the coupling of primary alkyl iodides and bromides with electron-neutral and electron-rich triarylaluminum reagents and affords the cross-coupled products in good to excellent yields.

A practical cobalt-catalyzed cross-coupling of benzylic zinc reagents with aryl and heteroaryl bromides or chlorides

A catalytic system consisting of 5 mol% CoCl₂ and 10 mol% isoquinoline allows a convenient cross-coupling of benzylic zinc reagents with various aryl and heteroaryl bromides or chlorides leading to polyfunctionalized diaryl- and aryl-heteroaryl-methane derivatives.

LDA-mediated synthesis of ortho-cyanated diarylmethanes by reaction of fluoroarene with arylacetonitrile at room temperature

An efficient and facile method for the synthesis of ortho-cyanated diarylmethane by reaction of fluoroarene with arylacetonitrile in the presence of LDA (lithium diisopropylamide) at room temperature was developed.

Facile Arylation of Four-Coordinate Boron Halides by Borenium Cation Mediated Boro-desilylation and -destannylation

The addition of AlCl₃ to four-coordinate boranes of the general formula (C–N-chelate)BCl₂ results in halide abstraction and formation of three-coordinate borenium cations of the general formula [(C–N-chelate)BCl]⁺. The latter react with both arylstannanes and arylsilanes by boro-destannylation and -desilylation, respectively, to form arylated boranes. Catalytic quantities of AlCl₃ were sufficient to effect high-yielding arylation of (C–N-chelate)BCl₂. Boro-destannylation is more rapid than boro-desilylation and leads to double arylation at the boron center, whereas in reactions with arylsilanes either single or double arylation occurs dependent on the nucleophilicity of the arylsilane and on the electrophilicity of the borenium cation. The electrophilicity of the borenium cation derived from 2-phenylpyridine was greater than that of the benzothiadiazole analogues, enabling the boro-desilyation of less nucleophilic silanes and the direct electrophilic borylation of 2-methylthiophene.