Selective Kumada biaryl cross-coupling reaction enabled by an iron(iii) alkoxide–N-heterocyclic carbene catalyst system

Abstract

A catalyst system comprising Fe₂(O^tBu)₆ and an N-heterocyclic carbene ligand enables efficient syntheses of (hetero)biaryls from the reactions of aryl Grignard reagents with a diverse spectrum of (hetero)aryl chlorides. Amongst the alkoxide and amide counterions investigated, tert-butoxide was the most effective in inhibiting the homocoupling of arylmagnesiums.