Fast, greener and scalable direct coupling of organolithium compounds with no additional solvents.

ABSTRACT: Although the use of catalytic rather than stoichiometric amounts of metal mediator in cross-coupling reactions between organic halides and organometallic counterparts improves significantly the atom economy and waste production, the use of solvents and stoichiometric generation of main-group byproducts (B, Sn and Zn) hamper the 'greenness' and industrial efficiency of these processes. Here we present a highly selective and green Pd-catalysed cross-coupling between organic halides and organolithium reagents proceeding without additional solvents and with short reaction times (10?min). This method bypasses a number of challenges previously encountered in Pd-catalysed cross-coupling with organolithium compounds such as strict exclusion of moisture, dilution and slow addition. Operational ease of this protocol combines the use of industrially viable catalysts loadings (down to 0.1?mol%), scalability of the process (tested up to 120?mmol) and exceptionally favourable environmental impact (E factors in several cases as low as 1).

SUBMITTER: Pinxterhuis EB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4895725 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature