New Preparation of Benzylic Aluminum and Zinc Organometallics by Direct Insertion of Aluminum Powder

Understanding the Chemoselectivity in Palladium-Catalyzed Three-Component Reaction of o-Bromobenzaldehyde, N-Tosylhydrazone, and Methanol

To understand the ligand-controlled palladium-catalyzed coupling of o-bromobenzaldehyde, N-tosylhydrazone, and methanol to give methyl 2-benzylbenzoic ester or methyl ether, we herein investigated the mechanisms which account for how C-C and C-O bonds are formed and why bidentate dppf/dppb ligands afford ester, whereas P(o-tolyl)₃ ligand gives ether. The ester chemoselectivity of the bidentate ligands is attributed to the strong electron-donating effect that disfavors the C,Br-reductive elimination of the coupling intermediate of o-bromobenzaldehyde and N-tosylhydrazone.

Transition-Metal-Free Synthesis of Biarylmethanes from Aryl Iodides and Benzylic Ketones

An original metal-free procedure for the synthesis of biarylmethanes is disclosed herein. The reactions occur with high selectivity starting from aryl iodides and benzylic ketones in the presence of superbasic media (CsOH/DMSO). This procedure allows a straightforward access to a wide range of biarylmethane derivatives substituted with electron-withdrawing and -donating substituents.

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.

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.

Benzyllithiums bearing aldehyde carbonyl groups. A flash chemistry approach

Reductive lithiation of benzyl halides bearing aldehyde carbonyl groups followed by reaction with subsequently added electrophiles was successfully accomplished.

Cooperative titanocene and phosphine catalysis: accelerated C-X activation for the generation of reactive organometallics

The study presented herein describes a reductive transmetalation approach toward the generation of Grignard and organozinc reagents mediated by a titanocene catalyst. This method enables the metalation of functionalized substrates without loss of functional group compatibility. Allyl zinc reagents and allyl, vinyl, and alkyl Grignard reagents were generated in situ and used in the addition to carbonyl substrates to provide the corresponding carbinols in yields up to 99%. It was discovered that phosphine ligands effectively accelerate the reductive transmetalation event to enable the metalation of C-X bonds at temperatures as low as -40 °C. Performing the reactions in the presence of chiral diamines and amino alcohols led to the enantioselective allylation of aldehydes.