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Escape from Palladium: Nickel-Catalyzed Catellani Annulation
Jingfeng Huo1, Yue Fu2, Melody J Tang1
1Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States.
This study introduces the first nickel-catalyzed Catellani-type reaction for arene functionalization, efficiently creating benzocyclobutene-fused norbornanes. The novel nickel catalysis offers improved regioselectivity and functional group tolerance compared to palladium methods.
Area of Science:
- Organic Chemistry
- Catalysis
- Organometallic Chemistry
Background:
- Catellani reactions are vital for arene functionalization but have been limited to palladium catalysis.
- Developing alternative catalytic systems is crucial for expanding synthetic methodologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the first nickel-catalyzed Catellani-type annulation reaction.
- To synthesize benzocyclobutene-fused norbornanes with high efficiency.
- To elucidate the reaction mechanism and compare it with palladium catalysis.
Main Methods:
- Nickel-catalyzed annulation of aryl triflates and chlorides.
- Mechanistic studies involving in-situ analysis.
- Comparison of catalytic efficiency and selectivity with palladium systems.
Main Results:
- Successful development of the first nickel-catalyzed Catellani-type reaction.
- High efficiency in forming benzocyclobutene-fused norbornanes.
- Identification of a unique outer-sphere concerted metalation/deprotonation pathway.
- Demonstrated broad functional group tolerance and enhanced regioselectivity.
Conclusions:
- Nickel catalysis provides a powerful new avenue for Catellani-type reactions.
- The developed method offers advantages in efficiency, selectivity, and substrate scope.
- Mechanistic insights reveal novel aspects of nickel-mediated C-H activation and annulation.
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