Nickel-catalyzed carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions of unactivated tertiary alkyl halides: Suzuki arylations

J Am Chem Soc. 2013 Jan 16;135(2):624-7. doi: 10.1021/ja311669p. Epub 2013 Jan 2.

Abstract

The first Suzuki cross-couplings of unactivated tertiary alkyl electrophiles are described. The method employs a readily accessible catalyst (NiBr(2)·diglyme/4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine, both commercially available) and represents the initial example of the use of a group 10 catalyst to cross-couple unactivated tertiary electrophiles to form C-C bonds. This approach to the synthesis of all-carbon quaternary carbon centers does not suffer from isomerization of the alkyl group, in contrast with the umpolung strategy for this bond construction (cross-coupling of a tertiary alkylmetal with an aryl electrophile). Preliminary mechanistic studies are consistent with the generation of a radical intermediate along the reaction pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biphenyl Compounds / chemistry
  • Bromides / chemistry*
  • Carbon / chemistry*
  • Catalysis
  • Methane / chemistry
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nickel / chemistry*

Substances

  • Biphenyl Compounds
  • Bromides
  • diphenyl
  • Carbon
  • Nickel
  • Methane