Regioselective Bromine/Magnesium Exchange for the Selective Functionalization of Polyhalogenated Arenes and Heterocycles.

Using the bimetallic combination sBu2 Mg⋅2 LiOR (R=2-ethylhexyl) in toluene enables efficient and regioselective Br/Mg exchanges with various dibromo-arenes and -heteroarenes under mild reaction conditions and provides bromo-substituted magnesium reagents. Assessing the role of Lewis donor additives in these reactions revealed that N,N,N',N'',N''-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDTA) finely tunes the regioselectivity of the Br/Mg exchange on dibromo-pyridines and quinolines. Combining spectroscopic with X-ray crystallographic studies, light has been shed on the mixed Li/Mg constitution of the organometallic intermediates accomplishing these transformations. These systems reacted effectively with a broad range of electrophiles, including allyl bromides, ketones, aldehydes, and Weinreb amides in good yields.

Iron-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of Bis-(aryl)manganese Nucleophiles with Alkenyl Halides: Optimization and Mechanistic Investigations.

Various substituted bis-(aryl)manganese species were prepared from aryl bromides by one-pot insertion of magnesium turnings in the presence of LiCl and in situ trans-metalation with MnCl2 in THF at -5 °C within 2 h. These bis-(aryl)manganese reagents undergo smooth iron-catalyzed cross-couplings using 10 mol% Fe(acac)3 with various functionalized alkenyl iodides and bromides in 1 h at 25 °C. The aryl-alkenyl cross-coupling reaction mechanism was thoroughly investigated through paramagnetic 1H-NMR, which identified the key role of tris-coordinated ate-iron(II) species in the catalytic process.

Iron-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of Functionalized Benzylmanganese Halides with Alkenyl Iodides, Bromides, and Triflates.

Various substituted benzylic manganese chlorides were prepared by insertion of magnesium turnings in the presence of MnCl2·2LiCl in THF at -5 °C within 2 h. These benzylic manganese reagents underwent smooth cross-couplings with various functionalized alkenyl iodides, bromides, and triflates or iodoacrylates in the presence of 10 mol % FeCl2 at 25 °C for 1-12 h. Mechanistic studies showed that benzylic manganese halides produced, in the presence of FeCl2, a very reactive iron ate complex.

Preparation of Polyfunctional Arylzinc Organometallics in Toluene by Halogen/Zinc Exchange Reactions.

A wide range of polyfunctional diaryl- and diheteroarylzinc species were prepared in toluene within 10 min to 5 h through an I/Zn or Br/Zn exchange reaction using bimetallic reagents of the general formula R'2 Zn⋅2 LiOR (R'=sBu, tBu, pTol). Highly sensitive functional groups, such as a triazine, a ketone, an aldehyde, or a nitro group, were tolerated in these exchange reactions, enabling the synthesis of a plethora of functionalized (hetero)arenes after quenching with various electrophiles. Insight into the constitution and reactivity of these bimetallic mixtures revealed the formation of highly active lithium diorganodialkoxyzincates of type [R'2 Zn(OR)2 Li2 ].