Ni(COD) ₂/PCy ₃ catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl and heteroaryl neopentylglycolboronates with aryl and heteroaryl mesylates and sulfamates in THF at room temperature

Reaction conditions for the Ni(COD) ₂/PCy ₃ catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl neopentylglycolboronates with aryl mesylates were developed. By using optimized reaction conditions, Ni(COD) ₂/PCy ₃ was shown to be a versatile catalyst for the cross-coupling of a diversity of aryl neopentylglycolboronates with aryl and heteroaryl mesylates and sulfamates containing both electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents in their para, ortho, and meta positions in THF at room temperature. This Ni-catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl neopentylglycolboronates is also effective for the synthesis of heterobiaryls and biaryls containing electrophilic functionalities sensitive to organolithium and organomagnesium derivatives. In combination with the recently developed Nicatalyzed neopentylglycolborylation, all Ni-catalyzed routes to functional biaryls and heterobiaryls are now easily accessible (Figure presented).