A simple and efficient synthesis of 9-arylfluorenes via metal-free reductive coupling of arylboronic acids and N-tosylhydrazones in situ

Abstract

A general, yet efficient synthesis method of 9-arylfluorenes via metal-free reductive coupling of N-tosylhydrazones and arylboronic acids has been developed. This methodology is realized by a one-pot protocol in two steps involving the preparation of N-tosylhydrazones by reacting tosylhydrazide with 9-fluorenone derivatives, followed by the reductive coupling of arylboronic acid in the presence of potassium carbonate to afford various 9-arylfluorenes analogues in moderate to excellent yields. Importantly, the catalytic system presented here enables the use of easily accessible starting materials and can be employed on a wide variety of substrates with good functional group tolerance. This protocol could also be particularly useful for the synthesis of 9-fluorenyl-substituted carbazolyl compounds.