New strategies for the synthesis of biologically important tetrapyrroles. The "B,C + D + A" approach to linear tetrapyrroles.

Linear tetrapyrroles related to phytochrome (1) were prepared in enantiospecific fashion by a new strategy beginning with ring-B,C synthons of type 19 (bis-iododipyrrins). Rings A and D were elaborated by Pd(0)-mediated coupling of 19a with the appropriate alkyne acid or amide derivatives 9 and 20, followed by intramolecular cyclization (method C: BC + D + A --> ABCD).

High turnover number and rapid, room-temperature amination of chloroarenes using saturated carbene ligands.

[equation--see text] A catalytic system for the mild amination of aryl chlorides is described. This system consists of a Pd(0) precursor and a dihydroimidazoline carbene ligand, which is generated in situ from its protonated tetrafluoroborate salt (2). Using this catalyst, aryl and heteroaryl chlorides react with secondary amines and anilines within hours at room temperature. Turnover numbers as high as 5000 are obtained at elevated temperatures for reaction of morpholine with an unactivated aryl chloride.