Pd-catalyzed sp2–sp cross-coupling reactions involving C–F bond activation in highly fluorinated nitrobenzene systems

Palladium-catalyzed defluorinative alkynylation of polyfluoroalkyl ketones with alkynes for the synthesis of fluorinated fused furans

A Pd-catalyzed C–F bond alkynylation of polyfluoroalkyl ketones with terminal alkynes for the synthesis of fluoroalkylated fused furans was developed.

Aryl Fluoride Activation Through Palladium-Magnesium Bimetallic Cooperation: A Mechanistic and Computational Study

Herein is described a mechanistic study of a palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl Grignard reagents to fluoroarenes that proceeds via a low-energy heterobimetallic oxidative addition pathway. Traditional oxidative additions of aryl chlorides to Pd complexes are known to be orders of magnitude faster than with aryl fluorides, and many palladium catalysts do not activate aryl fluorides at all. The experimental and computational studies outlined herein, however, support the view that at elevated Grignard : ArX ratios (i.e. 2.5 : 1) a Pd-Mg heterobimetallic mechanism predominates, leading to a remarkable decrease in the energy required for Ar-F bond activation. The heterobimetallic transition state for C-X bond cleavage is proposed to involve simultaneous Pd backbonding to the arene and Lewis acid activation of the halide by Mg to create a low-energy transition state for oxidative addition. The insights gained from this computational study led to the development of a phosphine ligand that was shown to be similarly competent for Ar-F bond activation.

Alkynylation of graphene via the Sonogashira C-C cross-coupling reaction on fluorographene

We report successful grafting of alkynyl groups onto graphene via the Sonogashira reaction between fluorographene and terminal alkynes.

We report successful grafting of alkynyl groups onto graphene via the Sonogashira reaction between fluorographene and terminal alkynes. Theoretical calculations revealed that fluorographene can efficiently bind and oxidize the palladium catalyst on electrophilic sites activated by fluorine atoms. This paves the way towards conductive and mechanically robust 3D covalent networks.

Multicomponent Coupling Reaction of Perfluoroarenes with 1,3-Butadiene and Aryl Grignard Reagents Promoted by an Anionic Ni(II) Complex

An anionic Ni complex was isolated and its structure determined by X-ray crystallography. With such an anionic complex as a key intermediate, a regio- and stereoselective multicomponent coupling reaction of perfluoroarenes, aryl Grignard reagents, and 1,3-butadiene in a 1:1:2 ratio was achieved, resulting in the formation of 1,6-octadiene derivatives containing two aryl groups, one from the perfluoroarene and the other from the aryl Grignard reagent, at the 3- and 8-positions, respectively.

Base-promoted direct and highly selective alkynylation of electron-deficient octafluorotoluene

Experimental and theoretical studies are reported on the base-promoted direct alkynylation of octafluorotoluene via highly selective C–F bond cleavage.

Nickel-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura type cross-coupling reactions of (2,2-difluorovinyl)benzene derivatives with arylboronic acids

An unprecedented highly stereoselective example of nickel-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura type cross-coupling reactions of (2,2-difluorovinyl)benzene derivatives with arylboronic acids was developed.

Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl fluorides with N-tosylhydrazones via C–F bond activation

A palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of electron-deficient aryl fluorides with aryl N-tosylhydrazones, which involves C–F bond activation and migratory insertion of palladium carbene, has been developed.

Copper-catalyzed oxidative decarboxylative C–H arylation of benzoxazoles with 2-nitrobenzoic acids

The first copper-catalyzed oxidative decarboxylative C–H arylation is reported, enabling the direct synthesis of arylated benzoxazoles from 2-nitrobenzoic acids.