Ligand-free, atom-efficient Suzuki–Miyaura type cross-coupling reactions at room temperature

Coupling of Aryl Chlorides with Lithium Nucleophiles Enabled by Molecularly Defined Alkynyllithium Palladium Catalysts

Palladium-catalyzed cross-couplings of aryl chlorides usually call for bulky, electron-rich ligands such as phosphines or heterocyclic carbenes. We have now found that similarly powerful cross-coupling catalysts are obtained by the reaction of palladium salts with alkynyllithium reagents. The species initially formed in this process was characterized as a dilithium tetraalkinyl palladate complex. It catalyzes the coupling of aryl chlorides with the lithium salts of various terminal alkynes to give alkynyl arenes. The isolated Li-alkynyl-Pd complex also efficiently promotes the reaction of aryl, and allyl chlorides with (hetero)aryl-, alkyl-, and allyllithium compounds as well as lithium amides. None of these reactions proceeded in the presence of palladium salts alone. The preparative utility of this approach was demonstrated by the synthesis of 49 molecules, including pharmaceutically relevant compounds.

Iodine-Catalyzed Synthesis of N,N'-Chelate Organoboron Aminoquinolate

We disclose a novel method for the synthesis of fluorescent N,N'-chelate organoboron compounds in high efficiency by treatment of aminoquinolates with NaBAr₄/R'COOH in the presence of an iodine catalyst. These compounds display high air and thermal stability. A possible catalytic mechanism based on the results of control experiments has been proposed. Fluorescence quantum yield of 3b is up to 0.79 in dichloromethane.

PdCl2(1-methylimidazole)2-catalysed Suzuki–Miyaura and Mizoroki–Heck Reactions Performed in Neat Water

PdCl2(1-methylimidazole)2 was an effective catalyst in neat water for the Suzuki–Miyaura and Mizoroki–Heck reactions of aryl bromides and iodides with, respectively, arylboronic acids and acrylic acid. Under optimal conditions, the products, variously substituted biphenyls and monosubstituted trans-cinnamic acids, respectively, were formed in good to almost quantitative yields.

N-heterocyclic carbene-palladium(II)-1-methylimidazole complex-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling of aryl sulfonates with arylboronic acids

A well-defined NHC-Pd(II)-Im complex 1 was found to be an effective catalyst for the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling of aryl sulfonates including tosylates and phenylsulfonates with arylboronic acids, giving the desired coupling products in good to high yields. Acceptable yields can also be achieved even by using the less reactive mesylates as the substrates. It is worthy of noting here that this is the first example of NHC-Pd(II) complex-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling of aryl sulfonates with arylboronic acids, enriching an inexpensive, convenient, and alternative method for the synthesis of biaryl compounds.