The Halogen-Samarium Exchange Reaction: Synthetic Applications and Kinetics.

Fast I/Sm and Br/Sm exchanges take place when various aromatic or heterocyclic iodides and bromides are treated with nBu2 SmCl⋅4 LiCl and nBu3 Sm⋅5 LiCl, respectively. The resulting organosamarium reagents were efficiently quenched with aldehydes, ketones, and imines. Also, they undergo acylations when treated with N,N-dimethylamides leading to ketones. The rate of the Br/Sm exchange for a typical aryl bromide was determined and found to be 8.5×105 faster than the Br/Mg exchange, indicating that the rate of a metal-exchange is related to the ionic character of the carbon-metal bond and to the metal electronegativity.

Synthesis of Polyfunctionalized Triaryllanthanum Reagents by Using Ph3 La and Related Species as Exchange Reagents.

Ph3 La⋅5 LiCl and the related (m-xylyl)3 La⋅5 LiCl were used as Hal/La exchange reagents (Hal=Br, I) for the preparation of various triaryl- and triheteroaryl-lanthanum derivatives. These new exchange reagents are compatible with isoquinolines and some functional groups such as a nitrile or an ester. The reactivity of the resulting lanthanum compounds towards electrophiles, such as ketones, aldehydes, N,N-dimethylamides, and primary alkyl halides was investigated. Additionally, a Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling procedure with aryl bromides was developed.

Preparation of Functionalized Diaryl- and Diheteroaryllanthanum Reagents by Fast Halogen-Lanthanum Exchange.

Aryl and heteroaryl halides (X=Br, I) undergo a fast and convenient halogen-lanthanum exchange with nBu2 LaMe, which leads to functionalized diaryl- and diheteroaryllanthanum derivatives. Subsequent trapping reactions with selected electrophiles, such as ketones, aldehydes, or amides, proceeded smoothly at -50 °C in THF, affording polyfunctionalized alcohols and carbonyl derivatives. Kinetic competition experiments revealed a similar reactivity trend as for Br/Mg exchange, but 106 -times higher rates, making it comparable to Br/Li exchange.

Cobalt-Catalyzed Reductive Cross-Coupling Between Styryl and Benzyl Halides.

A simple and efficient protocol for the direct reductive cross-coupling between alkenyl and benzyl halides using a Co/Mn system has been developed. This reaction proceeds smoothly in the presence of [CoBr2 (PPh3 )2 ] as the catalyst, with NaI as an additive in acetonitrile with a broad scope of functionalized alkenyl and benzyl halides. Different functional groups are tolerated on both coupling partners, thus, significantly extending the general scope of transition-metal-catalyzed benzylation of alkenyl halides. Moderate to excellent yields were also obtained. From a mechanistic point of view, a radical chain mechanism was proposed. This reaction is stereospecific and some studies suggest the retention of the double-bond configuration.

Preparation of Polyfunctional Organozinc Halides by an InX3 - and LiCl-Catalyzed Zinc Insertion to Aryl and Heteroaryl Iodides and Bromides.

A catalytic system consisting of InCl3 (3 mol %) and LiCl (30 mol %) allows a convenient preparation of polyfunctional arylzinc halides via the insertion of zinc powder to various aryl iodides in THF at 50 °C in up to 95 % yield. The use of a THF/DMPU (1:1) mixture shortens the reaction rates and allows the preparation of keto-substituted arylzinc reagents. In the presence of In(acac)3 (3 mol %) and LiCl (150 mol %), the zinc insertion to various aryl and heteroaryl bromides proceeds smoothly (50 °C, 2-18 h). Alkyl bromides are also converted to the corresponding zinc reagents in the presence of In(acac)3 (10 mol %) and LiCl (150 mol %) in 70-80 % yield.

Iron-Catalyzed Acylation of Polyfunctionalized Aryl- and Benzylzinc Halides with Acid Chlorides.

FeCl2 (5 mol %) catalyzes a smooth and convenient acylation of functionalized arylzinc halides at 50 °C (2-4 h) and benzylic zinc chlorides at 25 °C (0.5-4 h) with a variety of acid chlorides leading to polyfunctionalized diaryl and aryl heteroaryl ketones.

Polyfunctional Lithium, Magnesium, and Zinc Alkenyl Reagents as Building Blocks for the Synthesis of Complex Heterocycles.

New conjunctive ß-silylated organometallic reagents of Li, Mg, and Zn have been prepared and used for an expeditive construction of various polyfunctionalized 5-, 6-, and 7-membered heterocycles, such as furans, pyrroles, quinolines, benzo[b]thieno-[2,3-b]pyridine, naphthyridines, fused pyrazoles, and 2,3-dihydro-benzo[c]azepines. The latent silyl group has been converted into various carbon-carbon bonds in most heterocycle types.

A practical cobalt-catalyzed cross-coupling of benzylic zinc reagents with aryl and heteroaryl bromides or chlorides.

A catalytic system consisting of 5 mol% CoCl2 and 10 mol% isoquinoline allows a convenient cross-coupling of benzylic zinc reagents with various aryl and heteroaryl bromides or chlorides leading to polyfunctionalized diaryl- and aryl-heteroaryl-methane derivatives.