Tetrahedron Letters

An unprecedented iron-catalyzed cross-coupling of primary and secondary alkyl Grignard reagents with non-activated aryl chlorides

MC Perry, AN Gillett, TC Law

Index: Perry, Marc C.; Gillett, Amber N.; Law, Tyler C. Tetrahedron Letters, 2012 , vol. 53, # 33 p. 4436 - 4439

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Citation Number: 14

Abstract

The use of N-heterocyclic carbene ligands in the iron-catalyzed cross-coupling of alkyl Grignards has allowed, for the first time, coupling of non-activated, electron rich aryl chlorides. Surprisingly, the tetrahydrate of FeCl2 was found to be a better pre-catalyst than anhydrous FeCl2. Primary Grignard reagents coupled in excellent yields while secondary Grignard reagents coupled in modest yields. The use of acyclic secondary Grignard ...