Palladium-catalyzed stille couplings of aryl-, vinyl-, and alkyltrichlorostannanes in aqueous solution

Recent advances in transition metal-catalysed cross-coupling of (hetero)aryl halides and analogues under ligand-free conditions

The formation of new bonds is pivotal in organic chemistry and a prerequisite to life because it allows the construction of complex molecules from simple precursors.

A Highly Efficient and Reusable Palladium(II)/Cationic 2,2'-Bipyridyl-Catalyzed Stille Coupling in Water

A water-soluble PdCl₂(NH₃)₂/cationic 2,2'-bipyridyl system was found to be a highly efficient catalyst for Stille coupling of aryl iodides and bromides with organostannanes. The coupling reaction was conducted at 110 °C in water, under aerobic conditions, in the presence of NaHCO₃ as a base to afford corresponding Stille coupling products in good to high yields. When aryltributylstannanes were employed, the reactions proceeded smoothly under a very low catalyst loading (as little as 0.0001 mol %). After simple extraction, the residual aqueous phase could be reused in subsequent runs, making this Stille coupling economical. In the case of tetramethylstannane, however, a greater catalyst loading (1 mol %) and the use of tetraethylammonium iodide as a phase-transfer agent were required in order to obtain satisfactory yields.

Fluoride-promoted cross-coupling of chloro(mono-, di-, or triphenyl)germanes with aryl halides in "moist" toluene. Multiple transfer of the phenyl group from organogermane substrates and comparison of the coupling efficiencies of chloro(phenyl)germanes with their corresponding stannane and silane counterparts

The trichlorophenyl-, dichlorodiphenyl-, and chlorotriphenylgermanes undergo Pd-catalyzed cross-couplings with aryl bromides and iodides in the presence of tetrabutylammonium fluoride in toluene with addition of the measured amount of water. One chloride ligand on the Ge center allows efficient activation by fluoride to promote transfer of one, two, or three phenyl groups from the organogermanes. The corresponding chlorophenylstannanes were found to be more reactive than chlorophenylsilanes, which in turn were more effective than chlorophenylgermanes. One chloride ligand on the Ge or Si center allows efficient activation by fluoride to promote transfer of up to three aryl groups from germane or silicon. However, no haloligand was necessary to be present on the Sn center, since tetraphenyltin efficiently transferred up to four phenyl groups during fluoride-promoted couplings with aryl halides. (19)F NMR studies suggested formation of the fluorophenylgermanes and the hypervalent germanate species as possible intermediates.

Palladium–phosphinous acid-catalyzed Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions in water

A palladium--phosphinous acid-catalyzed Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction that proceeds in water under air atmosphere in the absence of organic co-solvents has been developed. Disubstituted alkynes have been prepared in up to 91% yield by POPd-catalyzed coupling of various aryl halides including chlorides in the presence of tetrabutylammonium bromide and pyrrolidine or NaOH.

The use of hydrophilic groups in aqueous organic reactions

The representative examples of beneficial effects of hydrophilic groups in aqueous organic reactions are described, including the Diels-Alder reactions, hetero Diels-Alder reactions, Claisen rearrangement, radical reactions, and transition metal-catalyzed reactions. Although the low solubility of organic molecules in water has been a bane in aqueous organic reactions, the incorporation of hydrophilic groups into the substrate structure can overcome the solubility problem and at the same time enhance the hydrophobic effect. In some cases, interesting micellar effects are observed because of the amphiphilic natures of such molecules. The emerging concept of "removable hydrophilic group," in which the solubility problems have been alleviated, yet the initial product can still be transformed into a variety of products with the removal of the hydrophilic groups, is also described.

Reduction of Aryl Thiocyanates with SmI(2) and Pd-Catalyzed Coupling with Aryl Halides as a Route to Mixed Aryl Sulfides

A series of aryl iodides, with a range of substituents, has been successfully coupled using 10 mol % Pd catalyst with samarium thiolates, derived from the corresponding aryl thiocyanates upon reductive cleavage with SmI(2). Reactions proceed in THF at 65 degrees C in yields ranging from good to excellent and are compatible with both electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents, except NO(2). The reactions may also be conducted with aryl bromides although with somewhat lower yields.