Iron-catalysed direct coupling of organosodium compounds

Area of Science:

• Organometallic Chemistry
• Sustainable Synthesis
• Catalysis

Background:

• Sodium is an abundant and sustainable alternative to scarce metals like lithium.
• Organosodium reagents are traditionally highly reactive and difficult to control in organic synthesis.
• Limited use of organosodium compounds, especially with transition-metal catalysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the use of organosodium compounds as C(sp2)-Na nucleophilic partners.
• To demonstrate their application in iron-catalyzed oxidative homocoupling and cross-coupling reactions.
• To explore the control of reactivity through mechanistic investigations.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing organosodium compounds as nucleophilic partners.
• Employing iron catalysis for oxidative homocoupling and cross-coupling reactions.
• Investigating reaction mechanisms via preparation and characterization of organoiron intermediates.
• Using a bidentate additive to control catalytic reactivity.

Main Results:

• Successful application of organosodium compounds in iron-catalyzed coupling reactions.
• Identification of a bidentate additive that coordinates both sodium and iron.
• Demonstration of controlled catalytic reactivity through additive coordination.
• Preparation and characterization of key organoiron intermediates.

Conclusions:

• Organosodium compounds can be effectively used in iron-catalyzed coupling reactions.
• A bidentate additive provides crucial control over the reactivity of organosodium reagents.
• This approach offers a sustainable alternative using abundant and non-toxic metals.
• The findings open new possibilities for sustainable organometallic reagents in synthesis.