Unusual ligand-dependent chemoselective Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions of 3-bromo-4-trifloyl-thiophenes

Interrogating Explicit Solvent Effects on the Mechanism and Site-Selectivity of Aryl Halide Oxidative Addition to L2Pd(0)

We report a study of solvent effects on the rate, selectivity, and mechanism of (hetero)aryl (pseudo)halide oxidative addition to Pd(PCy3)2 as an exemplar of L2Pd(0) species. First, 2-chloro-3-aminopyridine is observed to undergo faster oxidative addition in toluene compared to more polar solvents, which is not consistent with the trend we observe with many other 2-halopyridines. We attribute this to solvent basicity hydrogen bonding between solvent and substrate. Greater hydrogen bond donation from the substrate leads to a more electron-rich aromatic system, and therefore slower oxidative addition. We demonstrate how this affects rate and site-selectivity for hydrogen bond donating substrates. Second, electron-deficient multihalogenated pyridines exhibit improved site-selectivity in polar solvents, which we attribute to different C-X sites undergoing oxidative addition by two different mechanisms. The C-X site that favours the more polar nucleophilic displacement transition state is preferred over the site that favours a less-polar 3-centered transition state. Finally, (hetero)aryl triflates consistently undergo faster oxidative addition in more polar solvents, which we attribute to highly polar nucleophilic displacement transition states. This leads to improved site-selectivity for C-OTf oxidative addition, even in the presence of highly reactive 2-pyridyl halides.

Palladium-catalyzed chemoselective direct α-arylation of carbonyl compounds with chloroaryl triflates at the C-Cl site

This study described palladium-catalyzed chemoselective direct α-arylation of carbonyl compounds with chloroaryl triflates in the Ar–Cl bond. The Pd/SelectPhos system showed excellent chemoselectivity toward the Ar–Cl bond in the presence of the Ar–OTf bond with a broad substrate scope and excellent product yields. The electronic and steric hindrance offered by the –PR₂ group of the ligand with the C2-alkyl group was found to be the key factor affecting the reactivity and chemoselectivity of the α-arylation reaction. The chemodivergent approach was also successfully employed in the synthesis of flurbiprofen and its derivatives (e.g., –OMe and –F).

Palladium-catalyzed chemoselective direct α-arylation of carbonyl compounds with chloroaryl triflates in the Ar–Cl bond is reported. The effects of –PR₂ and C2-alkyl groups of the ligands are investigated using experimental and computational methods.

Chemodivergence between Electrophiles in Cross-Coupling Reactions

Chemodivergent cross-couplings are those in which either one of two (or more) potentially reactive functional groups can be made to react based on choice of conditions. In particular, this review focuses on cross-couplings involving two different (pseudo)halides that can compete for the role of the electrophilic coupling partner. The discussion is primarily organized by pairs of electrophiles including chloride vs. triflate, bromide vs. triflate, chloride vs. tosylate, and halide vs. halide. Some common themes emerge regarding the origin of selectivity control. These include catalyst ligation state and solvent polarity or coordinating ability. However, in many cases, further systematic studies will be necessary to deconvolute the influences of metal identity, ligand, solvent, additives, nucleophilic coupling partner, and other factors on chemoselectivity.

Rapid Room-Temperature, Chemoselective Csp2 -Csp2 Coupling of Poly(pseudo)halogenated Arenes Enabled by Palladium(I) Catalysis in Air

While chemoselectivities in Pd⁰‐catalyzed coupling reactions are frequently non‐intuitive and a result of a complex interplay of ligand/catalyst, substrate, and reaction conditions, we herein report a general method based on Pd^I that allows for an a priori predictable chemoselective Csp2 −Csp2 coupling at C−Br in preference to C−OTf and C−Cl bonds, regardless of the electronic or steric bias of the substrate. The C−C bond formations are extremely rapid (<5 min at RT) and are catalyzed by an air‐ and moisture‐stable Pd^I dimer under open‐flask conditions.