Direct C-C Bond Construction from Arylzinc Reagents and Aryl Halides without External Catalysts

Purple Light-Promoted Coupling of Bromopyridines with Grignard Reagents via SET

Alkyl- and arylpyridines and 2,2'-bipyridines are conventionally prepared by Minisci reactions of pyridines and transition metal-catalyzed coupling reactions of halopyridines. Herein, purple light-promoted radical coupling reactions of 2- or 4-bromopyridines with Grignard reagents in Et2O or a mixture of Et2O and tetrahydrofuran in regular glassware without the need for a transition metal catalyst were disclosed for the first time. Methyl, primary and secondary alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, pyridyl, and alkynyl Grignard reagents were compatible with the protocol. As a result, alkyl- and arylpyridines and 2,2'-bipyridines were easily prepared. Single electron transfer from the Grignard reagent to bromopyridine was stimulated by purple light. An electron extruded from the dimerization of the Grignard reagent worked as the catalyst. Light on/off experiments indicated that constant irradiation was required for product formation. Studies of radical clock substrates verified the involvement of a pyridyl radical from bromopyridine and the noninvolvement of an alkyl or aryl radical from the Grignard reagent. The available proof supports a photoinduced SRN mechanism for the new coupling reactions.

Nickel-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reaction of Aryl Methyl Sulfides with Aryl Bromides

A nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of aryl methyl sulfides with aryl bromides has been developed to access biaryls in yields of up to 86%. The reactions proceeded well using Ni(COD)2 as catalyst with the ligand BINAP (2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)-1,1'-binaphthalene) in the presence of magnesium. The method has a broad scope of substrates and is scalable. The wide availability of commercially available aryl bromides and the absence of preparation and preparation of organometallic reagents make the reaction of high application value.

Manipulation of an electron by photoirradiation in the electron-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction

An electron has recently been shown to catalyze the cross-coupling reaction of organometallic compounds with aryl halides. In terms of green and sustainable chemistry, the electron catalysis is much more desirable than the inevitably used transition metal catalysis but a high temperature of more than 100°C is required to achieve it. Here, we disclose that visible light photoirradiation accelerates the electron-catalyzed reaction of arylzinc reagents with aryl halides with the aid of a photoredox catalysis. Photoexcitation of a photoredox catalyst and an anion radical intermediate respectively affects the supply and transfer of the electron catalyst, promoting the cross-coupling reaction to proceed at room temperature. The supply of the electron catalyst by the photoredox catalysis makes the scope of aryl halides wider.

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.

Transition-Metal-Free Synthesis of Polyfunctional Triarylmethanes and 1,1-Diarylalkanes by Sequential Cross-Coupling of Benzal Diacetates with Organozinc Reagents

A variety of functionalized triarylmethane and 1,1-diarylalkane derivatives were prepared via a transition-metal-free, one-pot and two-step procedure, involving the reaction of various benzal diacetates with organozinc reagents. A sequential cross-coupling is enabled by changing the solvent from THF to toluene, and a two-step SN 1-type mechanism was proposed and evidenced by experimental studies. The synthetic utility of the method is further demonstrated by the synthesis of several biologically relevant molecules, such as an anti-tuberculosis agent, an anti-breast cancer agent, a precursor of a sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulator, and a FLAP inhibitor.

A Direct, Chemo-, and Regioselective Cross-Coupling Reaction of Arenes via Sequential Directed ortho Cuprations and Oxidation

Direct cross-coupling of Csp²-H/Csp²-H bonds of two arenes was achieved in 30-76% yield via sequential directed ortho cuprations (DoCu) with the cuprate base (TMP)₂Cu(CN)Li₂ (1, TMP = 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidido), followed by oxidation. This methodology offers easy access to unsymmetric biaryls from arenes with a variety of directed metalation groups (DMGs) and ancillary functional groups, taking advantage of the highly chemoselective action of 1.

Cascade Approach to Highly Functionalized Biaryls by a Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution with Arylhydroxylamines

A transition-metal free synthesis of highly functionalized 2-hydroxy-2'-amino-1,1'-biaryls from N-arylhydroxylamines has been developed. This operationally simple and readily scalable approach relies on a cascade of reactions that initially generates transient N, O-diarylhydroxylamines, via direct O-arylation, which then undergo rapid [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement and subsequent rearomatization to form NOBIN-type products. These structurally diverse functionalized biaryls are obtained under mild conditions in good to excellent isolated yields.

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).

Electron-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of Arylboron Compounds with Aryl Iodides

Arylboroxines in combination with zinc chloride and potassium tert-butoxide were found to undergo the electron-catalyzed cross-coupling with aryl iodides to give the corresponding biaryls without the aid of transition-metal catalysis.

Electron-Catalyzed Coupling of Magnesium Amides with Aryl Iodides

An electron was found to catalyze the coupling of magnesium diarylamides with aryl iodides giving triarylamines through a radical-anion intermediate. The transformation requires no transition metal catalysts or additives, and a wide array of products are formed in good-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.

Single electron transfer-induced coupling of alkynylzinc reagents with aryl and alkenyl iodides

An alkynyl–aryl coupling without the aid of transition metal catalysis has been achieved for the first time.

SET-induced biaryl cross-coupling: an S(RN)1 reaction

The SET-induced biaryl cross-coupling reaction is established as the first example of a Grignard S_RN1 reaction. The reaction is examined within the mechanistic framework of dissociative electron transfer in the presence of a Lewis acid. DFT calculations show that the reaction proceeds through a radical intermediate in the form of an Mg ion-radical cage, which eludes detection in trapping experiments by reacting quickly to form an MgPh₂ radical anion intermediate. A new mechanism is proposed.